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Health disparities and HIV

Every community has health disparities. Some people have better access to health care and do better with treatment.

  • Poor people tend to have worse health
  • Old people are at higher risk for cancer and heart disease.
  • Young people have more accidents, and young adults have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

In the United States as a whole, gay and bisexual men are at a much higher risk to become infected with HIV. Among gay and bisexual men, youth, Blacks, and Latinos have the highest rates of HIV infection. Transgender women, especially transgender women of color, also have very high rates of infection in the United States.

Percentage Change in Rates of New HIV Diagnoses from 2008-2014

Young MSM had an increase in new infections
While the rate of overall new HIV diagnoses decreased from 2008--2014, new diagnoses among MSM increased 6%, and new diagnoses among young MSM (ages 13-24) increased by nearly 30%. (Source: CDC; Image credit: AIDSVU.org)

Estimated New HIV Diagnoses among the Most-Affected Subpopulations, 2014—United States

Estimated New HIV Diagnoses among the Most-Affected Subpopulations, 2014—United States
Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2014. HIV Surveillance Report 2015;26. Subpopulations representing 2% or less of HIV diagnoses are not reflected in this chart. Abbreviation: MSM=men who have sex with men.