HIV/AIDS: A minority health issue

HIV infection disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States. The reasons for this disproportionate impact are complex, and intertwined with many confounding issues that also disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Superimposed on these factors are the unique cultural beliefs and contexts that influence behavior, health beliefs in general, and HIV infection in particular. As the epidemic continues in these communities, presentations of plicated by the presence of other chronic portionate in these communities, Failure broad-based prevention interventions for ties virtually ensures that HIV transmission in communities already severely affected. HIV infection are diseases that are disproportionate to achieve successful racial and ethnic minorities virtually ensures that HIV transmission will continue unabated in communities already severely affected.