title: HIV/AIDS among African Immigrants in the U.S.: The Need for Disaggregating HIV Surveillance Data by Country of Birth.
abstract: The goals of the United States' National HIV/AIDS Strategy are reducing HIV infections, increasing linkage to care, and reducing health disparities. To accomplish these, it is imperative to have accurate data about HIV prevalence, especially in high-burden populations, including immigrants, ethnic/racial minorities and other minority populations. However, recent increases in HIV prevalence among Black migrants from sub-Saharan Africa has drawn attention to the need to examine the epidemiological diversity of the Black population, and accurately account for HIV prevalence within it. In most HIV surveillance data, a single category, Black/African American, is used to combine data for U.S.-born and foreign-born Blacks, including migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Such categorizations result in under-estimation of HIV prevalence in the African immigrant population, making it difficult to allocate resources appropriately for HIV prevention and treatment. This paper highlights and provides recommendations regarding the importance of disaggregating HIV surveillance data on Blacks by country of birth.
authors.forename: Emmanuel F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Koku
authors.forename: Wardah M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Rajab-Gyagenda
authors.forename: Margaret D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Korto
authors.forename: Sharon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Yewoubdar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beyene
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mbajah
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ashton
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology