Epidemiologic profile of HIV and AIDS among American Indians/Alaska natives in the USA through 2000

Objectives To describe HIV and AIDS among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the USA through 2000. Design An epidemiologic profile was constructed using HIV/AIDS surveillance, sexually transmitted disease (STD), and seroprevalence data. Results Although AIDS among AI/AN represents <1% of cumulative AIDS cases in the USA, in 2000 the AIDS incidence rate (cases per 100,000 population) for AI/AN (11.9) was higher than that for whites (7.3). AI/AN had high rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis from 1996 through 2000; among all females, AI/AN females had the second highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reported during this time period. Of all AIDS cases among AI/AN, 70% were reported by 10 states. Conclusions These data demonstrate that the impact of STDs and the potential for an impact of HIV/AIDS among AI/AN are greater than indicated by the relatively small number of AIDS cases in this population. Additional mechanisms are needed to fill gaps in the available data. Coordination a...