Think About This — How often are People Living with HIV/AIDS guest speakers on your campus? Is HIV/AIDS a major campus dialogue? Beyond Health Services are there other locations for HIV testing on campus? Has your campus developed policies or support services for students living with HIV/AIDS? Considering the high impact of HIV/AIDS on MSM (men who have sex with men) of all races, Blacks, and women; what targeted prevention messages are provided to these groups at your campus?
These Are The Facts — The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s latest 2008 HIV Surveillance Report indicated an estimated total of 41,269 new cases of HIV infection in 37 states with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting. Key differences in age, race/ethnicity, mode of transmission, and gender of the 2008 HIV new cases are indicated below:
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The age groups most reflective of undergraduate and graduates students (15-19, 20-24, & 25-29) had an estimated 12,943 (31.36% of total) cases of new HIV infection in 2008 [pp. 17-18].
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The top three race/ethnicity groups with the highest new HIV cases in 2008 were: Black/African American (21,289 cases – 51.59%), White (11,778 cases – 28.54%), and Hispanic/Latino (7,121 cases – 17.26%) [pp. 17-18].
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The top three modes of transmission for new HIV cases in 2008 for Men (n=30,755) were: Male-to-Male Sexual Contact (22,469 cases – 73.06%), Heterosexual Contact (4,496 cases – 14.62%), and Injection Drug Use (2,539 cases – 8.26%) [pp. 17-18].
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The top three modes of transmission for new HIV cases in 2008 for Women (n=10,332) were: Heterosexual Contact (8,648 cases – 84.05%), Injection Drug Use (1,571 cases – 15.21%), and Other (77 cases – 0.75) [pp. 17-18].
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In 2008, males accounted for 75% of all diagnoses of HIV infection among adults and adolescents [p. 7].
Enhancing Campus HIV/AIDS Dialogue — The 2008 HIV Surveillance Report is an annual reminder that our work on HIV/AIDS is not complete. Many communities, including our college students, are at high risk for HIV. As higher education professionals, we share a passion for student development. Our training, research, and practice in higher education suggest that the college experience is an opportunity for students to develop their identity — including their sexual identity. Sexual exploration places college students at risk for HIV and STIs.
