HIV and African American Teens
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Nancy L. Brown, PhD
It is not often you hear adults saying that teen girls need to talk more, but in fact, they need to talk more about HIV/AIDS, and adults need to talk with them! A recent op-ed by Janice Armstrong encouraged young black girls to stop having unprotected sex in the name of love - it is killing them!AIDS is a preventable disease and the leading cause of death for African American females between the ages of 25 and 34. Nearly 70% of all new HIV infections in the United States between 2001 and 2004 were in black females, most of whom got it from their male partners. Black women are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV than white women and 13 times more likely to die from the disease.
When we are talking to our friends and our daughters, it is important to remember that the things we are not saying, can kill us! Talk about condoms, HIV, and protection during sex - all types of sex - oral, anal, and vaginal. When talking about love, talk about protection!
Photo credit: Shavar
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Labels: HIV
5 Comments:
At Tue Oct 23, 02:25:00 PM 2007,
Rhonda said…
I feel that what your saying about African Amerian women being more likely to catch HIV/AIDS than a white women is not right. Your making it seem like HIV/AIDS is designed for African Americans. How do you think we (me being African American) should feel. I hope you can have an answer on why that is so.
At Wed Oct 24, 08:05:00 AM 2007,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
I am so sorry - I was not suggesting HIV/AIDS is designed for African Americans. However, many of the new cases are in African American women, suggesting they are getting the disease more than white women - and one reason may be that they are not using condoms to protect themselves, if they choose to be sexually active. I was encouraging women to talk about the risks and encourage self-protection.
At Wed Apr 30, 04:20:00 PM 2008,
meka1986 said…
I see where you are coming from. As an African American Women I truelly know. Within the past 6 years I have had many friend s that were diagnosed with AIDS. Not only was they diagnosed with it there children and partners where as well. The child and her father have passed but my friend is still living. About two weeks ago she was in the hospitol and the Dr. told here that she had less than a month to live. She is trying to live her live to the fullest. She will leave behind 3 children and is only 21 years old. So really I just understand because every other week someone in my city dies of this disease.
At Wed Sep 02, 09:52:00 PM 2009,
ten_wiz said…
I'm not a teen but I have 3 daughters. They get birth control and I have purchased them condoms to keep on them at all times. People say I'm telling them to go out to have sex. I say, "NO, I'm making sure they are protected." When I was a young teen no one and I mean no one ever discussed STD with me. No one ever took me to a doctor for a papsmear. The first time I saw a doctor I waited until my 18th birthday where I had consent for my self. I went to the doctor for my own papsmear and they called me back with results. At the time, I was told I had syphillis and that it was bad. I remember being scared and trying to figure out how I had gotten it. After the initial shock, I went down to get meds and that was the end or so I thought. It was later that I found out that it was in blood stream sitting dormant. I tried to give blood after 9/11 and the CDC wrote me a letter informing I could not give blood. I wish the doctors would have informed me and given more information to me about STDs. I had the small crash course from high-school. The message no one ever made was this: Every one and I mean everyone who is sexually active is at risk for a STD. Everyone of us who have been sexually active have had a STD. That is a part of life. This is the message people need to understand. If you are sexaully active you have made a choice to either have children or receive an STD or both. Once people understand that message then they can come to grips with what is happening. Families do not discuss STD's, parents do not tell their children that they have had a
STD. Therefore, this information is kept secret by everyone but the truth is everyone gets a
STD if they are sexually active. I told my girls what happened to me and I've explained to them why I could never give blood.
When I had my first child she had to have blood transfusions and they couldn't give them to her from me. The blood came from the Blood Bank. At that time in 89" the blood was still tainted. I never understood why they couldn't take my blood to give to her. Again, I say to all people doctors have got to be more clearer with their messages to patients. Please start directing people to websites, and other resources to find out about their diagnosis. Anyway, the first 7 years of my oldest daughter life, we had to go every six months for her HIV test. She finally made it through and was free and clear. Please teens, look at it this way.. "Your mother has had a STD, you grandparents, and anyone you know has had a STD... perhaps we should start a campaign called... KIDS asks your parents have they ever had a STD? When? What? How? and what they think they could have done differently to prevent it from occurring again. God bless you all and I PRAY YOU GET THIS MESSAGE.
At Tue Sep 22, 10:44:00 AM 2009,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
KEEP YOUR VOICE STRONG! As a mom and parent - how anyone could not hear your message is beyond me! Thank you for this comment and blessings to your family of safe young women!
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