HIV Research and Black Women

As black women professionals in the field of HIV research and treatment, we are concerned that the public may be misled by Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke’s statements in The Times regarding HIV infection and research (Jan. 30-31). Among other things, Burke stated that African American women are at no higher risk of getting AIDS than any other women.

Unfortunately, there is abundant evidence to the contrary. Black women make up approximately 12% of the U.S. female population but 54% of the reported AIDS cases among women. In Los Angeles, one-third of the new AIDS cases are among black women (CDC data, October 1997).

Although at much greater risk for becoming infected, the African American community lags behind in obtaining testing, treatment and up to date information about HIV/AIDS.

On Feb. 8, The Times reported dramatic drops in the numbers of persons dying from AIDS each year; unfortunately, these drops did not extend to HIV-infected African American men and women. We must begin to treat HIV as a viral disease that can be transmitted sexually. The time has come for us to become proactive in stopping the spread of new infections and actively participate in medical research, or our people will continue to suffer and die in silence.

DEBORAH Y. WAFER

UCLA Center for AIDS

Research and Education Clinic

NINA T. HARAWA

UCLA School of Public Health

Department of Epidemiology