For information on
how to get tested for
STDs and HIV
Crown Medical Center
1925 1st Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-871-4354
www.crownmedicalcenter.org
Red Door Services of Hennepin
County Public Health Clinic
525 Portland Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-543-5555
www.reddoorclinic.org
MINNESOTA
MAAAH
Current planning partners
Room 111
St. Paul-Ramsey County
Department of Public Health
555 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-266-1352
www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/yas/
sexually_transmitted_diseases.htm
The MAP AIDSLine
612-373-AIDS in the metro
(612-373-2465 metro TTY)
800-248-AIDS statewide
(888-820-2437 statewide TTY)
www.mapaidsline.org
Phone: 651-201-5414
www.health.state.mn.us/hiv
If you require this document in another format,
such as large print, Braille or cassette tape,
call (651) 201-5414
Printed 5/09
AFRICAN /
AFRICANAMERICAN
WOMEN HIV
I N I T I AT I V E
About MAAAH:
The Minnesota
African/African
American Women
HIV Initiative
(MAAAH) arose
from an ongoing
regional forum
series sponsored
by the National Alliance of State and
Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) that
focuses on racial and ethnic disparities
among African Americans. This forum,
“African American Women and HIV/
AIDS: Confronting the Crisis and Planning for Action,” provided a foundation for
participating organizations to strengthen
partnerships and collaborate more effectively to implement prevention, care and
treatment programs specifically targeting
African American women.
MAAAH consists of persons infected or
affected by HIV and representatives from
the African American AIDS Task Force
(AAATF), Turning Point, Inc., Office of
Minority and Multicultural Health, Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Human Services. The following are the goals proposed by MAAAH:
Establish programs for Black women as
a funding priority in Minnesota
Address the issue of lack of services
specific to Black women and youth
Sustainability of services for Black
women
Address compound issues in the life of
Black women and youth
These goals are established in an effort
to provide education and awareness of
issues concerning the impact HIV/AIDS
has had on African/American Women.
Statistics:
HIV/AIDS Facts
for Minnesota:
AIDS is the leading cause of mortality for Black
women ages 24-35 in the United States.
Women of color, particularly Black women, are
disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.
Black women represent
the majority of HIV and
AIDS cases among
women living in Minnesota.
Nationally, Black women account for 67% of
AIDS cases among women, but only 12% of the
U.S. population of women (Kaiser 2006). These
numbers are very similar to those in Minnesota.
Women with HIV are at increased risk for developing or contracting a range of conditions including cervical dysphasia and human papillomavirus
(HPV), precursors for cervical cancer (NIAID,
HIV Infection in Women 2006).
As of 12/31/08, a total of 8,819 HIV
and AIDS cases have been reported
to the Minnesota Department of
Health (MDH) since the epidemic
began:
1,740 (20%) African American
584 (7%) African-born
479 African Americans have died
36 African-born persons have died
1,351 African Americans currently
living with HIV (includes those who
have relocated to Minnesota)
793 African-born persons currently
living with HIV (includes those who
have relocated to Minnesota)
Women Living with HIV are likely to be uninsured.
The biggest HIV infection route for women is
heterosexual sex, according to the CDC.
A recent study of HIV-infected women found that
women who used drugs, compared with women
who did not, were less likely to take their antiretroviral medicines exactly as prescribed (Sharpe and
Lee 2004).
326 new HIV cases were reported in
2008:
173 (53%) cases among whites: rate
4.0 per 100,000
68 (21%) cases among African Americans: rate 40.5 per 100,000
37 (11%) cases among African-born:
rate 74—105.1 per 100,000
Statewide rates for African Americans
were nearly 10 times greater than
whites