High rate of infection linked to lack of sex education

by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

The CDC's newly released HIV Surveillance Report for 2013 contains - for the first time - comprehensive data mapping HIV infections across the United States. The new report paints 'a complete picture of diagnosed HIV infection in the U.S.,' the CDC says, revealing that HIV infections are concentrated in Southern states.

The highest rates of HIV infection, with 20 cases or more per 100,000 population, were noted in the Deep South states of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Among Northern states, only New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, and the District of Columbia showed similarly high infection rates.

Washington state showed a relatively low rate, with 5.2 to 9.9 cases per 100,000.

RESULTS NOT SURPRISING 'It's likely no coincidence that many of those same states lack the comprehensive sexual education requirements that would help educate their residents about HIV transmission from an early age,' Think Progress said, reporting the study.

'Health classes in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana aren't required to provide any kind of medically accurate information about HIV. And in two of those states - Texas and Florida - public schools don't have to offer any type of sexual health education whatsoever.'

In Washington, the 1988 AIDS Omnibus Act mandates HIV/AIDS prevention education beginning in Grade 5 and continuing through Grade 12. But ours is one of only 20 states that require both sex education and HIV education in public schools.

The link between sex education - or the lack of it - and HIV rates is particularly disturbing in light of another finding of the report, that infection rates for people aged 20 to 29 increased since last year's study. The CDC also found that infection rates among Asians increased, while those for African Americans and Latinos decreased. HIV rates among white and Native Americans remained stable.

The rate of HIV infection among African Americans remains very high, however, accounting for 47% of HIV cases, while African Americans represent only 12% of the U.S. population. Latinos account for 21% of HIV cases but comprise only 16% of the population.

GAY MEN AT HIGH RISK The CDC also found that infections transmitted via male-to-male sexual contact increased, accounting for 62% of all HIV diagnoses, while the number from intravenous drug use and heterosexual sexual contact decreased.

The study found that the rate of Stage 3 infections - the most severe - remained stable.

HIV-related deaths increased for people aged 60 and older, but decreased for most other adults. Death rates remained stable for children and for whites generally, while declining for other racial groups.

The full report can be found at the CDC's website, www.cdc.gov.

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