Trends in Black-White Disparities in HIV Diagnosis by Selected Characteristics, 2017‒2021-United States

To identify trends in HIV diagnosis disparities among subpopulations of Black/African American and White persons by selected characteristics (i.e., sex assigned at birth, age group, and region of residence) in the United States during 2017‒2021.

Four-year estimated annual percent change (EAPC) during 2017‒2021, 2020 was excluded due to the impact of COVID-19 on HIV diagnoses, was used to assess temporal trends in diagnosis rates and disparities by selected characteristics for Black and White persons aged ≥ 13 years with a diagnosis of HIV infection. Data reported through December 2022 to the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) were used.

Among 74,161 Black persons and 44,641 White persons with HIV diagnosed during 2017-2021, there was an overall increase in HIV diagnosis rates among White females (EAPC = 2.0; CI = 0.3, 3.8), White males aged 35‒44 years (EAPC = 1.8; CI = 0.2, 3.5) and whose infection was attributed to injection drug use (EAPC = 7.5; CI = 4.6, 10.4), White females aged 35‒44 years (EAPC = 5.3; CI = 1.9, 8.9) and residing in the Midwest (EAPC = 5.5; CI = 1.4, 9.7). Among both Black and White males, we observed increases in relative disparities in HIV diagnosis for males aged 13‒24 years (EAPC = 7.4; CI = 7.0, 7.7) and residing in the West (EAPC = 2.0; CI = 1.1, 2.9).

Efforts should prioritize eliminating disparities in treatment and prevention services by taking a comprehensive approach and actively mitigating the social determinants contributing to HIV disparities.