AIDS Among African Americans in Baltimore, Maryland

HIV/AIDS Among African Americans in Baltimore, Maryland
Known for its "beautiful harbor, quirky distinct neighborhoods" ("About Baltimore", 2015), Baltimore is an American success story. It was once a major trading center and a leading port for entry of European immigrants second only to Ellis Island. Baltimore also served as an important shipbuilding and supply-shipping center during the Second World War. It is the birthplace of the United States national Anthem and the American Railroad system. "Historically a working-class port town, focused on steel processing, shipping, auto manufacturing and transportation, Baltimore now has a modern service economy, led by high-tech, biotech, medicine and tourism"("About Baltimore", 2015).
But despite all these successes, there is an impending epidemic in Baltimore. In a recent report by ABC News, it was mentioned that one in five people in Baltimore who were HIV+ didn’t even know that they were infected, hence increasing the possibility of spreading the disease. While it is true that HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence, it is still a cause of concern as the cost of the daily dose of drugs needed to keep an HIV+ individual healthy is no laughing matter. A report published by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2015) shows that Baltimore (together with Columbia and Towson) now has the third largest HIV diagnosis rate in the US today.
Although new HIV diagnoses has been decreasing over the years ("Baltimore City HIV/AIDS Epidemiological Profile", 2012, p.10), there is an increase in the number of cases that involved teenagers ("Baltimore City HIV/AIDS Epidemiological Profile", 2012, p.14). This meant that early in their lives, teenagers have to deal with HIV/AIDS which could cause serious psycho-emotional distress not only to those who contracted the disease, but to their families as well. And because they are not yet financially independent, parents of these teenagers living with HIV/AIDS, are forced to shoulder their medical costs. Moreover, contracting HIV/AIDS early in life could drastically impact a person’s productivity. If more individuals are infected with HIV/AIDS before they enter the labor force, this could have a major negative effect on the country’s economy ("Impact on Economic Growth", 2014, p.81).
Another important trend with regards to HIV/AIDS in Baltimore is that around 86% of all cases involved African Americans. National data is no different. "Between 1999 and 2002, African American men accounted for 49 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases among men in the United States. Black women accounted for 72 percent of new cases among women" (LaVeist, 2011, p. 215).
What is it with African Americans that make them susceptible to HIV/AIDS transmission? LaVeist (2011) gives us an answer to this question: "The primary risk factors for HIV/AIDS infection are all highly prevalent among African Americans" (p. 215), poverty, HIV/AIDS stigma and drug use. Research shows that individuals who live below the poverty line have a greater chance of contracting the disease because they have lesser capacity to access adequate health care. Unfortunately, 22% of all African American currently live in poverty. This essent...