African American Women and HIV/AIDS

Wynette Collins

HIV/STD Minority Coordinator

Columbus Health Department

June 2005

Columbus Health Department

Franklin County, Ohio• Total Population: 1,068,978

Gender: 519,283 males (48.6%) 549,695 females (51.4%)

Race: 191,196 African American (17.9%)806,851 White (75.5%)10,992 Hispanic (1%)32,250 Asian/Pacific Islander (3.1%)2,899 Native American/Alaskan Native (0.3%)

23,790 two or more races ( 2.2%)

Source: US Census data, 2000

Columbus Health Department

African American Women and HIV in Franklin County, Ohio

• AA women represent:

*10% of the total HIV/AIDS cases (n=268)

*64% of the total HIV/AIDS cases for all women

• What’s next???????

Source: Ohio Department of Health HIV Surveillance Data

Columbus Health Department

Our Response

• Based on HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data for Franklin County

• Goal: To reduce the transmission of HIV in African American women, as well as other minority populations.

• Objective: To offer sexual health services (HIV/STD testing and prevention education) to African American women in their own settings (sororities, churches, National Black observance days relating to HIV)

Columbus Health Department

Collaboration Efforts

• Minority and community-based organizations, academic institutions, churches, and community/public events

Columbus Health Department

Challenges/Barriers

• Advertisement

• African American Churches

Columbus Health Department

Successes• Opportunity to reach many “hard to reach”

populations

• Numerous networking opportunities-future collaboration efforts-med students volunteers

• Positive feedback from community-support/accolades from event planners sponsors and attendees