What’s Really Behind the AIDS Epidemic in Black America?

BET.com explores what makes us more vulnerable.

New Research Underway on Black Health in St. Louis - In hopes of creating better health policies, researchers from Washington University and Saint Louis University are teaming up to address racial health disparities among Blacks in the city of St. Louis. They will focus their work on a range of issues including risk factors for chronic conditions, access to care and mental health illnesses, says a Washington University press release. (Photo: LWA / Getty Images)

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What's Fueling HIV? - Why is it that African-Americans are so disproportionally impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic? BET.com explores what is going on in the Black community that makes us more vulnerable. (Photo: Getty Images/ STOCK)

Chopped - North Carolina ordered the suspension of November applications for welfare benefits until the federal shutdown is resolved. The state's welfare program, Work First, is funded entirely by the federal government and recipients must reapply each month, Reuters reports.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Gaps in Quality Health Care - While Obamacare is doing its best to provide health insurance to the most vulnerable communities, generations of Black people are disproportionately uninsured and it helps fuel HIV in this country.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Do More African-Americans Live in Poverty Than Any Other Group? - According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010, 31.6 million white Americans lived in poverty, more than any other racial or ethnic group. What about per capita? (Photo: Shashank Bengali/MCT/Landov)

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Disproportionate Poverty - In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the largest risk factor for HIV in America was poverty. Poverty limits your access to quality health care, health literacy, HIV testing, overall education and housing, which all have been linked to HIV transmission. (Photo: Shashank Bengali/MCT/Landov)

Liberia Considers Two Anti-Gay Proposals - Two new bills were introduced into Liberia's legislature which would make the country the latest in the African continent to punish homosexuality with possible jail time.  (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

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Homophobia - Homophobia exists among all races and ethnicities, but it’s important to point out that in our community the price of that homophobia is incredibly high. The constant degradation of gay and bisexual men plays a role in their self-esteem and mental health, which can lead to risky behaviors.   (Photo: REUTERS/James Aken)

High Rates of Untreated and Undiagnosed STDs - According to a 2009 CDC study, Blacks represent 13 percent of the U.S. population, but accounted for about 71 percent of reported gonorrhea cases and almost half of all chlamydia and syphilis cases. Untreated and undiagnosed STDs lower your immune system, which can put you further at risk for contracting HIV. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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High Rates of Untreated and Undiagnosed STDs - According to a 2009 CDC study, Blacks represent 13 percent of the U.S. population, but accounted for about 71 percent of reported gonorrhea cases and almost half of all chlamydia and syphilis cases. Untreated and undiagnosed STDs lower your immune system, which can put you further at risk for contracting HIV. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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My Man Isn’t on the Low, So We Don’t Need Condoms - Study after study has shown that down-low men are not fueling the AIDS epidemic among Black women. So why do we still believe it? Think: If heterosexual sex is how we are being infected, that means straight Black men have this disease, too. So rap it up, regardless of who you’re with.(Photo: Touchlife Images/Getty Images)

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Gender Inequality - Whether it’s domestic violence, not being able to negotiate condom use with male partners or having to trade sex for necessities, gender inequalities increase our risk of HIV by taking away a woman’s choice to make decisions about whether or not she uses condoms.  (Photo: Getty Images/ STOCK)

Lack of Needle-Exchange Policies - One impactful way that has been proven to decrease HIV infections among this community is needle-exchange programs. The lack of these policies in some communities further puts people at risk.   (Photo: REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino GN/CRB)

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Lack of Needle-Exchange Policies - One impactful way that has been proven to decrease HIV infections among this community is needle-exchange programs. The lack of these policies in some communities further puts people at risk.   (Photo: REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino GN/CRB)

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Mass Incarceration - Mass incarceration fuels HIV because it takes men out of the community, creating an imbalance between available men to women in a certain community. If men are having unprotected sex with multiple partners, it increases the risk of contracting and spreading HIV. (Photo: Birmingham News /Landov)

Heterosexual Men Need to Join in Too - It’s important to engage heterosexual men in being part of the solution to ending AIDS among Black women. Straight Black men need to get tested for HIV/STDs regularly and use condoms consistently, even in monogamous long-term relationships.  (Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

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Lack of Comprehensive Education - Since 1997, our federal government has invested almost $1.5 billion in abstinence-only education, while numerous studies have shown that these programs are completely ineffective in delaying sex.  (Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Women - Renew the Violence Against Women Act to help protect victims of domestic violence and help law enforcement investigate and prosecute sexual assaults. The Senate voted Tuesday to renew the law; Obama called on the House to quickly send him a bill. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Stigma - The negative stigma surrounding HIV stops us from getting tested or having safer sex because we don’t quite understand the risk factors or get that this disease can really happen to us. Whether you are straight or gay, married or single, churchgoing or not, we are all at risk for HIV. (Photo: Getty Images/ STOCK)  

Photo By Photo: Getty Images/STOCK