AIDS... We are all affected.

East Harlem HIV CARE Network SPONSORED BY UnionSettlement

FACT SHEET

AIDS In East Harlem - Intersections

There were 5.8 million people infected with HIV throughout the world in 1998 bringing the global infection rate to 33.4 million. 95% 0f these are from the developing world and 70% of these new infections are from Sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 1999 ).

In the U.S. all people of color together comprise less than 25% of the population yet account for approximately 60% of all reported AIDS cases.

In New York City Blacks account for 25% of the population and Latinos for 24% of the population yet account for 41% and 31% of reported AIDS cases. This means that while comprising less than 50% of the total population these groups account for over 70% of all AIDS cases.

AIDS became another major piece in the puzzle of health and social ills in East Harlem since the beginning of the virus. AIDS cases have been recorded in East Harlem since the very early 1980’s. Since then, AIDS cases continued to increase in East Harlem peaking at around 1992 and 1993 when the CDC expanded the diagnostic criteria for AIDS. Although the AIDS case rate appears to have leveled off, this could be due to two major factors: 1) there is still a reporting lag for 1997 and 1998, and 2) the new medications are proving effective in slowing the AIDS progression rate, (i.e. a CD4 count of less that 200). Nonetheless, the social conditions that accelerate the AIDS epidemic continue at high rates in East Harlem. For example, East Harlem ranks #2 in NYC for STD’s, and #1 citywide for substance abuse hospitalizations. These factors, when added to high poverty rates, facilitate the spread of HIV.

• East Harlem has a total population of over 110,508 representing 1.4% of New York City’s population yet has the second highest (4,330 per 100,000 adults) cumulative AIDS rate in the entire city (OAS 10/98).

• Zip code 10029 in East Harlem recorded the highest number of AIDS cases among Hispanics and blacks in the entire borough of Manhattan (Blacks/Latinos living with AIDS by zip in DOH – B.D.I.R. 10/98).

• By February 1999, there were 4,146 cumulative AIDS cases in East Harlem. Of the cumulative total 2,976, or 72% were males and 1,170 or 28% were females. (OAS 2/99)

• Of these, a total of 2,662 persons have died of AIDS in East Harlem. Of the surviving 1,484 persons living with AIDS in East Harlem, 1,029 are male and 455 are female (ibid.).

• 713 or 48% of the persons living with AIDS in East Harlem are blacks, 679 or 45% Hispanics, 87 or .05% are whites and five persons are listed as others/unknown (ibid.).

• The primary mode of HIV transmission in East Harlem is intravenous drug use (IDU). A staggering 62.3% of all AIDS infections resulted from IDU, more than six out every ten HIV infections. This represents the highest percentage in all of Manhattan (ibid.).

• Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 716 or 17.3% of the transmission rate in East Harlem.

• Heterosexual transmissions accounted for 392 of these the total AIDS cases in East Harlem. Women account for 80.3% of transmissions in this category.

• Although AIDS case rates are declining in East Harlem, there is no accurate measure for the rate of current HIV infection. Only diagnosed AIDS cases are reported and used to calculate HIV infection rates.

• However, the CDC estimated that for every person with AIDS, there are between 3 to 5 persons infected with HIV. This means there can realistically be anywhere from 4,452 to 7,420 persons infected with HIV in East Harlem. Given the slowed rate of AIDS progression, due to the new medications, the number can also be much higher due to other risk factors.

• If we apply this formula to the cumulative AIDS total in East Harlem (4,146 cases) this would mean that there can be anywhere from 12,438 (4,146x3) to 20,730 (4,146x5) persons infected with HIV in East Harlem.

• This may not be too far fetched because East Harlem continues to record high numbers of other surrogate indicators of high-risk behavior for HIV infection. For example…

• East Harlem ranked #1 in teenage pregnancies and births to teens in 1996.

• East Harlem ranked #2 -second highest incidence- in (STDs) sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia) in the entire city.

• In the same year, East Harlem ranked #1 in drug abuse hospitalizations among adults 25-44 years old and #2 in substance abuse hospitalizations among those18-24 years old (Community Health Profile 3/99).

• East Harlem zip codes 10029, 10035, 10037 ranked 178, 171, and 128 among 181 zip codes for injection drug users living with AIDS with 10029 and 10035 being in the ninetieth percentile (High Needs Index HIV Health and Human Services Planning /Council 4/98).

• Out of approximately 5,600 homeless men sheltered in the entire city each night (DHS 4/99), about 1,100 (19.6%) reside on Ward’s island. This amounts to almost one out every five homeless men in the entire city.

• Most of these (70% to 85%) are substance abusers.

• The AIDS case rate among women in East Harlem is higher than the average city-wide. East Harlem ranks in the ninetieth percentile for women living with AIDS.

• Heterosexual HIV transmission is more prevalent among women than in men. Many women are infected by their spouses and learn their status only after being treated for an OI. This often leads to accusations of infidelity by their spouses.

• Where’s Pedro? The cultural composition of East Harlem has changed dramatically. One the signs of the times was the painting over of a mural of Albizu Campos that was on a wall on the corner of 116^th and 2^nd for over two decades.

• It is almost impossible to estimate the rate of HIV infection in immigrant groups because many are not documented. EH has seen the arrival of Mexicans, Guatemalans, & Colombians over past 10-15 years.

• The cultural norms of new immigrants place them at risk for HIV. Language limits access to services.