New statistics released by CDC examine infection rates in MSM in 21 major metro areas
DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer taffet@dallasvoice.com
In September, the Centers for Disease Control issued new HIV statistics for men who have sex with men in 21 metropolitan areas.
They tested 8,153 men and found HIV prevalence was 28 percent among blacks, 18 percent among Hispanics and 16 percent among whites. In Dallas, 461 men participated in the study.
The statistics were worse for Dallas than the 21 cities as a whole. Nationally, 19 percent of those tested were positive. In Dallas, 26 percent were positive. About 44 percent of those who tested positive in the full survey were previously unaware of their status. In Dallas, 54 percent were previously unaware.
In Houston, the same percentage tested positive as in Dallas, but only 23 percent were previously unaware of their status.
Only Philadelphia, Detroit and San Juan had higher percentages of participants than Dallas who did not previously know their status. Each of those cities scored more than 70 percent unaware. Only Baltimore and New York City revealed a higher percentage of new HIV infections than Dallas or Houston.
The study found that HIV prevalence dropped with higher education levels and with higher income levels.
Positive testing increased with age but those in their 30s were most likely to be unaware of their status.
For more on the report go online to cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5937a2.htm?s_cid=mm5937a2_w
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 08, 2010.
