HIV Rate Doubles for Black Women Study: Infection up in District’s poorest wards in past 2 years

[Jason Scarborough]

The HIV infection rate for heterosexual African American women in the District’s poorest neighborhoods nearly doubled in two 

years, from 6.3 percent to 12.1 percent, according to a new study released Tuesday by the D.C. health department. 

This large increase reflects both wider testing of people who were previously unaware of their status and possibly a still-rising rate of new infections in that high-risk group, officials said. 

The disease remains at epidemic levels in Washington. 

In releasing the study, District health officials  also  announced new recommendations for doctors and other providers to start treatment immediately for all persons newly diagnosed with HIV instead of waiting for evidence that someone’s immune system has been severely damaged. 

The  new  recommendations are in keeping with new federal guidelines.

On Tuesday, officials also released the health department’s  annual update on HIV/AIDS, a drop in the overall number of new AIDS cases over four years and improvements in getting infected people into care quickly. For example, 76.1 percent of infected individuals were connected with care within 

three months of diagnosis in 2010,which showed up from 58 percent in 2006.

The annual snapshot also gives a more accurate picture than in previous reports for the number of people living with HIV or AIDS  because  of  an  improved tracking system that eliminates duplication. 

There were 14,465 residents, or about 2.7 percent of District residents older than 12, who were living with HIV or AIDS in 2010, the year covered in the report. That prevalence rate — the total percentage of people in a population with the condition or disease at a given time — is among the highest for any U.S. city.

 LENA H. SUN  

( T H E   WA S H I N G T O N   P O S T  )