Reports on HIV/AIDS: 1990

JULY, 1990, MMWR, Vol. 39, No. SS-3, pp. 23-30
Surveillance for AIDS and HIV Infection
Among Black and Hispanic Children
and Women of Childbearing Age, 1981-1989
Jacob A. Gayle, Ph.D.
Office of the Deputy Director (HIV)
Richard M. Selik, M.D.
Susan Y. Chu, Ph.D.
Division of HIV/AIDS
Center for Infectious Diseases
Summary
Surveillance systems indicate that the most documented human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) cases among children and women of childbearing age in the United
States occur among black and Hispanic populations. Intravenous-drug use
(IVDU) is the presumptive origin of HIV infection for most of these cases,
through direct IVDU, sexual contact with an intravenous (IV)-drug user, or birth
to women with either mode of exposure. These data confirm the need for
HIV-prevention programs directed to the racial, ethnic, age, and reproductive
concerns of black and Hispanic women of childbearing age and their children.
Services should be available for those who are HIV infected, as well as for those
who are not infected with HIV, to prevent the further spread of HIV. Services for
prevention and treatment of drug abuse are an integral part of HIV prevention
and treatment for these groups.
INTRODUCTION
The incidence of reported acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the
prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have been greater
among Hispanics and blacks than among other racial/ethnic minority groups (1-4).
This report focuses on this disparity among children (<15 years of age) and women
of childbearing age (15-44 years of age).
METHODS
HIV/AIDS data from four sources were examined: 1) national AIDS surveillance
data reported to the Division of HIV/AIDS, Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC, in
1989; 2) mortality data reported to the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, in
1988; 3) data on HIV-antibody prevalence in specimens routinely submitted for
metabolic screening of newborns from December 1987 through November 1988; and
4) data on HIV-antibody prevalence among women who applied for military service
from October 1985 through December 1989.
To calculate the annual incidence of AIPS, the authors estimated the number of
cases diagnosed in each year, adjusting for the delay between diagnosis and
reporting. Annual incidence data for 1989 were excluded, because this adjustment is
less reliable for the most recent year. To compare AIDS surveillance and mortality
data with population data, the authors excluded residents of U.S. territories

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