A Portrait of HIV Infection Among Men in the United States

HIV/AIDS has been a major public health problem in the United States for over 25 years and has significantly contributed to morbidity and mortality among men. At the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, White men were predominately affected, representing 95% of the cases in 1982. Over time, the burden of disease shifted from White men to Black and Hispanic men. Currently, Blacks and Hispanics represent 64% of the men living with HIV. AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death for Black men and the tenth leading cause of death for Hispanic men. Because the transmission of HIV is predominately behavior-driven, it is imperative that nurses have open, honest discussions with clients about their behaviors.