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Introduction: Some HIV-infected men who have sex with men also have sex with women. Additionally, some women do not know that they are or have been in a sexual relationship with a bisexual man. Knowledge of their male partner's risks for HIV infection is crucial if reductions in HIV/AIDS are to occur among women. Methods: We examined AIDS diagnosed cases reported to CDC from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, 2000 through 2004, in women aged 13 years and older. Cases were analyzed by transmission category, race/ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and geographic region, and data were adjusted for missing risk factor information and reporting delays. Results: From 2000 through 2004, an estimated 1,576 women (from a total of 35,376 women reported with HIV from heterosexual contact and diagnosed with AIDS) reported sexual contact with a bisexual man (BSXM) as their primary risk factor for HIV infection. Non-Hispanic blacks accounted for the majority (62.8%) of cases, followed by non-Hispanic whites (20.5%) and Hispanics (14.8%). The average AIDS rate attributed to sex with a BSXM differed significantly by race/ethnicity (p < 0.01), with the rate for non-Hispanic black women 13 times the rate for non-Hispanic whites and 4 times the rate for Hispanics. Sexual contact with a BSXM accounted for 6.3% of AIDS cases among non-Hispanic white women with heterosexually acquired HIV compared to 4.4% among Hispanics and 4.0% among non-Hispanic blacks. Conclusions: The proportion of AIDS cases among women attributed to sex with a BSXM was similar across races/ethnicities: however, rates were highest among non-Hispanic black women. Because some women were unaware of their male partner's risk for HIV infection, the number of women with AIDS who had a bisexual partner was probably underreported. HIV prevention programs should provide information on risks of sex with BSXM, as many women may not be fully aware of their risks for acquiring HIV infection. doi:10.1300/J013v46n02_03 KEYWORDS. AIDS, HIV infection, women, bisexual men, transmission, race/ethnicity

Background: HIV/AIDS has emerged as a persistent health threat to black women in the United States. For the past decade, HIV disease has been among the top 10 leading causes of death for this population., Methods: We analyzed national HIV surveillance data from 29 states with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting that have conducted integrated HIV/AIDS surveillance since at least 1998. We also analyzed AIDS surveillance data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia., Results: In 2002, black women represented 14% of all women in the 29 states whose HIV data were analyzed but 72.3% of annual HIV infection diagnoses among women. In that same year, black women were diagnosed with HIV infection at a rate of 68.7 per 100,000, approximately 23 times the rate for white women (three per 100,000) and four times that for Hispanic women (17.2 per 100,000). Likewise, in 2002, black women represented 13% of all women in the 50 states and the District of Columbia but an estimated 67.8% of new AIDS diagnoses among women. In that same year, black women were diagnosed with AIDS at a rate of 48 per 100,000, approximately 23 times the rate for white women (2.1 per 100,000) and more than four times that for Hispanic women (10.6 per 100,000),, Conclusions: Because black women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, effective strategies are needed to prevent new HIV infections, to detect HIV infections early and to assure adequate treatment for black women who are infected with HIV.

Background: During June 1981 to June 1982, 37% of more than 400 cases of AIDS reported to the CDC were in minority races and ethnicities. In 2003, 72% of the estimated 43,171 cases of AIDS diagnosed in the 50 states; District of Columbia; and U.S. dependencies, possessions and free nations were in minority races and ethnicities., Methods: We analyzed HIV/AIDS data for 2000-2003 reported by the 32 states that have had confidential name-based reporting of HIV infection since 1999. For analysis of AIDS data, we used data for 1999-2003 reported by the 50 states and the District of Columbia. HIV/AIDS and AIDS data were statistically adjusted for reporting delays and redistribution of cases initially reported without risk factors., Results: For all years, the numbers of HIV/AIDS and AIDS diagnoses were consistently higher among non-Hispanic blacks than among other races and ethnicities. In the 32 states with HIV reporting, the HIV/AIDS diagnosis rate in 2003 was 74 per 100,000 for blacks, 25 per 100,000 for Hispanics, 11 per 100,000 for American Indians/Alaska Natives, nine per 100,000 for whites, and seven per 100,000 for Asians/Pacific Islanders. The rates for persons living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2003 were highest for blacks (765 per 100,000) and Hispanics (220 per 100,000). In the 50 states and the District of Columbia, AIDS diagnosis rates in 2003 were 58 per 100,000 for blacks, 20 per 100,000 for Hispanics, eight per 100,000 for American Indians/Alaska Natives, and four per 100,000 for Asians/Pacific Islanders., Conclusion: HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minority races and ethnicities in the United States. To reduce rates of HIV/AIDS in these populations, effective and culturally appropriate prevention interventions must be developed and implemented.