HIV report causes concern in S.C.
By Dave Munday
A new report on the HIV epidemic in Washington also set off alarm bells in the Lowcountry.
At least three of every 100 residents in the nation's capital are infected with the virus that causes AIDS, the city's health department reported this week. The number of cases increased 22 percent during 2007 alone.
More info
DHEC HIV/AIDS fact sheet (2 page PDF)
HIV infections in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties (2 page PDF)
Washington, D.C. Health Dept. HIV report (84 page PDF)
The situation is not nearly that bad in South Carolina, but this is still one of the riskiest states in the nation for unprotected sex, especially among blacks. South Carolina ranks seventh among states and the District of Columbia in the percentage of people with AIDS, with about 16 of every 100,000 residents infected, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
"We've made a lot of progress, but we can't be complacent," said Tony Price, DHEC's HIV prevention program manager.
Lowcountry AIDS Services Director Virginia King, also sees the report as a warning.
"It could become more of a problem here if people don't start to pay attention to what they do," she said.
Blacks are especially at risk.
In Washington, blacks make up 53 percent of the population but account for 76 percent of the infections, according to the report.
In South Carolina, blacks make up 29 percent of the population but account for 73 percent of the HIV cases, according to DHEC.
Sex among men, especially black men, is the biggest cause of infection, although women who have sex with infected men also are at risk, as well as intravenous drug users, according to both reports.
In Washington, sex among men accounted for 37 percent of the cases, heterosexual sex for 28 percent and intravenous drug use for 18 percent, according to the report.
In South Carolina, sex among men accounted for 50 percent of recent infections, followed by infected men who have sex with women and then intravenous drug users, according to DHEC.
The percentage of blacks in South Carolina infected with HIV has dropped steadily in the last 10 years, according to DHEC. Health workers attribute that to more efforts to educate people on the risks and getting more people tested.
Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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badplf (anonymous) says...
the catholic church's archaic position on birth control (specifically condoms) coupled with black culture's general refusal to practive safe sex are the leading the causes of the HIV epedimic. this is still largely a disease that effects irresponsible and negligent individuals. no matter how much money we throw at it or how much hand wringing we do, unless these factors are addressed, nothing will change.
March 18, 2009 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
"In Washington, sex among men accounted for 37 percent of the cases, heterosexual sex for 28 percent and intravenous drug use for 18 percent"
Those percentages only add up to 83%. Where do the other 17% come from?
March 18, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
very misleading report.
March 18, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
majorjohnson, the other 17% are likely congenital (kids born to moms with HIV), plus a fraction from infected blood products. Also, homosexual women were not mentioned and could account for a few percentage points. Lastly, I'm sure "unknown transmission" accounts for a few points. That would be my guess.
March 18, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gabba (anonymous) says...
"the catholic church's archaic position on birth control (specifically condoms) coupled with black culture's general refusal to practive safe sex are the leading the causes of the HIV epedimic."
It's interesting that DC (which has the second largest free condom program in the country) has a HIV rate of 3%. Pretty darn high considering all the free condoms. Guess giving out the condoms doesn't help that much.
HIV is a disease that is transmitted predominantly by bad behavior. Whether that behavior is unprotected sex (male to male, male to female, or female to female) or intravenous drug use its a choice that people have made and now they have to live with. If people were in monogamous relationships then the rates of transmission would be one heck of a lot lower.
HIV transmission through the blood transfusion is low....Very low.
The problem is that people don't want to modify their behavior. People take no responsibility for their actions. HIV isn't as forgiving as a judge or jury. You get it and you're stuck with it. The sentence currently can't be overturned.
March 18, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNN_10 (anonymous) says...
The African American community in Charleston still do not get it. Instead of the NAACP bitching and whining about the Confederate Flag, This organization seriously need to look at why the HIV rate is really bad in Charleston. And finding way to stop this disease becoming widespread in the African American community.
March 18, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charles_Town (anonymous) says...
The Catholic churches position also disagrees with sex outside of marriage, so quit blaming the Catholic church and look at those without ethics, or moral compass.
March 18, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Yeah baby we are moving on up in the rankings again!! Woo hoo!!!
yeah the church will save us...hahaha
March 18, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carowinds (anonymous) says...
The rapidly rising number of African American men on the "down low" is certainly one of the biggest reason for these epidemic infection rates:
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleane...
March 18, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
badplf (anonymous) says...
gabba, they can pass out all the condoms they want, if they don't get used, they're not going to prevent diseases or pregnancies. we seem to be in agreement on the rest of it - HIV is a problem spread primarily by bad, irresponsible and negligent behavior.
charles_town, what does the catholic church say about priests molesting alter boys? oh, that's right, they don't say anything. they just cover it up, reassign pedophiles and payoff or intimidate victims to be silent.
opposing out-of-wedlock sex is as archaic as opposing the use of birth control. people are going to have sex whether you approve or not, it's just basic human/animal instinct.
March 18, 2009 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bb165920 (anonymous) says...
i heard badplf has HIV
March 18, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
ABSTENENCE EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS DOES NOT WORK. ITS A LOAD OF BS.
Condoms in every Jr and High School Bathroom combined with real sex education.
"Bad behavior" from another reich-wing religious taliban? Just another example how the reich-wing South Carolina Taliban has destroyed and continues to destroy this state.
Please, sex is NOT bad behavior. Failing to plan for its consequence is.
March 18, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Southernized (anonymous) says...
Posted by bb165920 on March 18, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i heard badplf has HIV
*That is very wrong & disrespectful, Never joke, or even talk like that about some ones life. There is nothing to joke about when it is concerning peoples life.
Very distasteful!
March 18, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
obmode (anonymous) says...
flu shots and drug use cause the body to produce the 2 or 3 proteins looked for on the hiv test causing false positives. 4 proteins are required for a positive result in canada and australia. please visit www.youtube.com/hivquestions (and healing alternatives) as well as www.fearoftheinvisible.com
March 22, 2009 at 12:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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