National Overview

• Currently, 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the United States (16 percent) are unaware of their infections.

• 50,000 Americans becoming newly infected with HIV each year.

• More than 15,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the United States.

• While blacks represent approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population, they account for almost half of all new infections in the United States each year (44 percent) as well as almost half of all people living with HIV (44 percent).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC

National Overview

AIDS continues to claim the lives of too many African American men and women.

• Blacks account for almost half of all those have died from AIDS in the United States since the beginning of the epidemic.

• Additionally, according to the most recent published data, AIDS is among the top five causes of death among black women and men aged 25 to 44.

AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULTS

Among racial/ethnic groups, African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV and AIDS in the nation:

• At some point in their lives, approximately one in 16 black men will be diagnosed with HIV, as will one in 32 black women.

• Among blacks, men account for 70 percent of new HIV infections. Women account for 30 percent.

• Within the African American community, gay and bisexual men are the most affected, followed by heterosexual women.

• The rate of new HIV infections for black men is more than six times as high as that of white men, and more than two times that of Hispanic men and of black women. Among black men, the majority of new infections occur among men who have sex with men (MSM).

• Comparing 2008 to 2010, new HIV infections among black women decreased 21 percent (from 7,700 to 6,100); however, black women account for the vast majority (64 percent) of all new infections among women overall and the HIV incidence rate for black women remains 20 times as high as that of white women, and almost five times that of Hispanic women.

• Despite increases in the total number of people living with HIV in the United States in

recent years, the annual number of new infections has remained relatively stable

overall.

• HIV infections among blacks overall have been roughly stable in recent years.

An analysis by the Black AIDS Institute

found that if Black America were its

own country, it would rank

16th in the world in the number of

people with HIV — ahead of Ethiopia,

Botswana, and Haiti.

AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH

• African American youth continue to be one of the groups most severely affected by HIV infection in the United States.

• Black youth represent more than half (57%) of all new HIV infections among young people aged 13 to 24.

AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH

• Among those aged 13 to 24, black men have higher rates of infection than any other race/ethnicity.

• The rate of new infections among young black females aged 13 to 24 is five times as high as that of young white or Hispanic females.

• Many African American youth are diagnosed late in the course of infection, when it may be too late to fully benefit from life-prolonging treatment.

These numbers underscore the need to reach a new generation with effective HIV prevention programs and messages.

• Complex Factors Increase Risk High prevalence of HIV: African Americans of all ages face a higher risk of being exposed to infection with each sexual encounter than do other racial/ethnic groups. This is because the burden of HIV is greater in African American communities than in any other racial/ethnic group, and because African Americans are likely to have sexual relations with other African Americans. Therefore, even with levels of individual risk behaviors (e.g. unprotected sex, multiple partners) that are comparable to other races/ethnicities, African Americans face a higher risk of infection.

• High prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Data also show that the burden of STDs is far higher in African American communities than in any other racial/ethnic group; for example, gonorrhea rates among African Americans in 2011 were 17 times as high as those of whites. Because STDs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia can increase the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission, this likely contributes to higher HIV incidence among black men and women.

• Lack of awareness about HIV: Research also shows that African Americans are less likely than those of other races/ethnicities to be aware of their HIV status. In fact, the rate of undiagnosed HIV infection among blacks was nine times that among whites. This is critical, considering the majority of new sexually transmitted HIV infections are believed to be transmitted by those who are unaware of their infection.

• Stigma: The stigma associated with HIV and homosexuality may help to spread HIV in African American communities. Fear of disclosing risk behavior or sexual orientation prevents many from seeking testing, treatment and support from friends and family. As a result, too many in African American communities lack critical information about how to prevent infection.

• Socioeconomic factors: The stark realities of some African Americans’ lives can also increase HIV risk. These include higher levels of poverty, racial discrimination, lack of access to healthcare, and higher rates of incarceration, which disrupt social networks. Studies have shown, for example, that lower income and educational attainment are significant factors contributing to new infections among African Americans who contract HIV, despite low risk behaviors.

Safe2Live HistoryThe Safe2Live Program, founded by Monique

Richert/Chayenn, launched during 2008. The Safe2Live Program provides HIV/AIDS health

information, resources and support for under-served populations locally & nationally.

The Safe2Live Program includes:

• Safe2Live.org website • Virtual world presence in JokaydiaGrid

• Public Service Announcements • Mobile Puppet Theater

These resources provide accessible outreach tools, for engaging and educating the most

vulnerable demographic and target audience: youth ages 8-13. Black teens represent 15% of the

US teenage population but account for 68% of the new HIV infections. •

Safe2Live offers fun, entertaining, and interactive tools for educating youth through social media

networks, STEM skills acquisition and live events tailored to the individuals scholars education

needs.

The effectiveness of the Safe2Live curriculum program is substantiated by the program pre

and post- surveys than gauge knowledge retention and changes in skills, attitudes and

behaviors.

Safe2Live LiveSafe2Live Live educational events in

Baltimore City Public Schools and Community Centers.

350 youth scholars were oriented to e-learning on the Safe2Live SIM on the JokaydiaGRID: PY1 (177, 90, 24). The sessions included: avatar creation, customization,

navigation, HIV/AIDS education in an interactive environment and STEM skills acquisition (learning to

build inworld).

Youth scholars HIV/AIDS knowledge increased by 25% through the Safe2Live program as gauged through the

pre and post- test surveys, evaluations and other metrics.

PY1 was an exhibitor and participated in the XIX International AIDS Conference, in Washington, D.C.

World HIV/AIDS Statistics •More than 35 million people now live with HIV/AIDS, 3.3 million of them are under the age of 15.

•In 2012, an estimated 2.3 million people were newly infected with HIV - 260,000 were under the age of 15.

•Every day nearly 6,300 people contract HIV—nearly 262 every hour.

•In 2012, 1.6 million people died from AIDS. 210,000 of them were under the age of 15.

•Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 75 million people have contracted HIV and nearly 40 million have died of HIV-related causes. Statistics courtesy of amfAR

Safe2Live goes GlobalThrough a unique public and private partnership,

PY1 is developing the Safe2Live HIV/AIDS Virtual

Health Education Program to educate 500,000 youth aged 8-24 from nine African countries: Benin,

Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo

and Zimbabwe.

The Safe2Live Virtual Health Education Program utilizes proven multi-media learning theory, are culturally and linguistically appropriate to our audience, and presented in English and French

languages.

At PY1 we believe that by adapting the Safe2Live program to a virtual world format, we have created a cost-effective and proven model that can serve many more youth in Baltimore City and Washington, DC

and literally the world. Safe2Live helps us to achieve an AIDS – Free Generation.

New classes of HIV medicines help millions of HIV+ people to attain the highest possible quality of life every day. While these medical advances

hold bright promise, we must act individually in our communities to fight HIV/AIDS. Each of us holds great influence in shaping our common future. To commemorate the 25th World AIDS Day and to honor people

living with HIV and those who have died, we ask that you lend your heart, hands and minds in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

This World AIDS Day PY1 asks you to act:Take an HIV Test, Volunteer at your local AIDS Service Organization, Lend your support to a HIV+ friend, Talk with your kids, friends and colleagues about HIV/AIDS, Reach out to your community of faith,

Distribute Condoms and HIV educational materials in your community, Use social media networks to heighten HIV/AIDS Awareness.

Monique Richert/ChayennTom Kujwaski/INCARN8443.491.3634 :: info@PY1.orgVisit: protectyourself1.org Follow: Twitter.com/PY1US Like: Facebook.com/PY1US Watch:youtube.com/protectyourself1

Sponsors and Supporters

Protect Yourself 1 asserts as we educate our youth, we also protect the future of our communities. The greater the number of youth that are educated and made aware of safe

choices yields a significant reduction of the incidence of HIV/AIDS/HCV/STIs community-wide.

Protect Yourself 1 is proud to acknowledge our sponsors and supporters for their generous contributions of financial, in-kind and technical support in fulfilling the PY1 mission and

programs.

PY1 MissionFounded in 2004, PY1’s mission is to increase

awareness, education and individual

responsibility with respect to

HIV/AIDS/STIs for underserved, at-risk

populations. Our programs integrate music, art,

e-learning, STEM skills acquisition and social

media campaigns to help youth attain the

highest possible quality of life.

PY1 helps to eliminate the taboos, myths and

stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and to reduce

risky behaviors and new infections.

Questions & Answers