Risk by Racial/Ethnic Groups

In the United States, HIV is spread mainly through anal or vaginal sex or by sharing drug-use equipment with an infected person. Although these risk factors are the same for everyone, some racial/ethnic groups are more affected than others, given their percentage of the population. This is because some population groups have higher rates of HIV in their communities, thus raising the risk of new infections with each sexual or drug use encounter.

Additionally, a range of social, economic, and demographic factors—such as stigma, discrimination, income, education, and geographic region—affect their risk for HIV. This section provides information on the prevention challenges for various groups and what CDC is doing to address them.

• African Americans
• American Indians/Alaska Natives
• Asians
• Hispanics/Latinos
• Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders