The document summarizes efforts to mobilize black communities in Florida to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It provides statistics showing black communities in Florida have been disproportionately affected. Community groups like Sistas Organizing to Survive and various faith organizations have worked to increase HIV testing and education. As a result, the number of HIV tests among black women increased to nearly 104,000 in 2010, the racial gap in HIV rates has closed somewhat, and one county changed school policies. The conclusion emphasizes that data collection alone is not enough and must lead to community action.

1. BUREAU OF HIV/AIDS
Florida Department of Health
Division of Disease Control
Mobilizing Black Communities:
Does it Work?
Ronald Henderson
Statewide Minority AIDS Coordinator

2. “The reason for collecting,
analyzing and disseminating
information on a disease is to
control that disease. Collection
and analysis should not be
allowed to consume resources if
action does not follow.”
_
Foege WH, et al. Int. J of Epidemiology 1976;5:29-37

3. The Epidemic in Florida
2010 60% White
16% Black
Population: 18.8 million  22% Hispanic
(4th in nation) 3% Other*
Cumulative AIDS cases: 121,161
(3rd in nation)
Cumulative pediatric AIDS cases: 1,542
(2nd in nation)
Cumulative HIV (not AIDS) cases: 46,795
(since July 1997)
Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs): 95,335
HIV prevalence estimate: 135,000
HIV incidence estimate: 5,550 (2006)
*Other = Asian/Pacific Islanders; American Indians/Alaskan Natives; multi-racial.

4. Map of the State of Florida
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5. PLWHA “One-in” Statements
Top 5 Counties
Florida, Through 2005
Whites Blacks Hispanics
County One in… County One in… County One in…
Monroe 119 St. Lucie 35 Monroe 179
Miami-Dade 143 Palm Beach 42 Miami-Dade 182
Broward 207 Miami-Dade 44 Broward 216
Orange 284 Collier 55 Orange 237
Hillsborough 375 Broward 58 Palm Beach 252
Expressing the PLWHA rates as “one-in statements” can
make it easier to visualize the impact of HIV/AIDS on
the communities. In St. Lucie County, 1 in 35 blacks are
living with HIV/AIDS (reported cases).

7. Minimum MSM PLWHA Rates
11 Counties, Florida, Through 2006*
White At Least Black At Least Hispanic At Least
MSM One in… MSM One in… MSM One in…
Miami-Dade 8 Miami-Dade 8 Miami-Dade 12
Broward 11 Orange 8 Broward 16
Orange 13 Hillsborough 12 Orange 22
Hillsborough 22 Duval 13 Pinellas 27
Pinellas 26 Palm Beach 13 Palm Beach 29
Duval 30 Sarasota 13 Sarasota 30
Palm Beach 34 Pinellas 14 Collier 33
Osceola 40 St. Lucie 14 Hillsborough 33
Sarasota 47 Manatee 15 Osceola 43
Volusia 51 Volusia 15 Duval 44
Lee 54 Broward 17 Manatee 47
PLWHA = Person living with HIV/AIDS (reported case).
The one-in statement is an expression of the impact of HIV/AIDS on each
group (a prevalence rate). It is assumed that at most 10% of each subgroup
are MSM. It is stated “at least…” because the PLWHA rates would be higher
to the extent that the percentage of males who are MSM is lower than 10%.
*11 counties with at least 15 MSM PLWHAs and at least 500 MSM in each
racial/ethnic group are shown. A total of 19 counties meet both these criteria.

11. PLWHA Rates Among Women, by Race/Ethnicity
Top 12 Counties and State, Florida, Through 2006
White Women One in… Black Women One in… Hispanic Women One in…
Miami-Dade 482 Saint Lucie 35 Palm Beach 346
Broward 892 Palm Beach 40 Osceola 351
Duval 979 Miami-Dade 43 Marion 369
Hillsborough 1,007 Collier 55 Orange 375
Palm Beach 1,032 Broward 55 Hillsborough 403
Saint Lucie 1,052 Lee 67 Lee 447
Orange 1,057 FLORIDA 68 Miami-Dade 470
Polk 1,143 Duval 90 FLORIDA 472
FLORIDA 1,281 Hillsborough 92 Brevard 540
Escambia 1,305 Sarasota 93 Broward 544
Pinellas 1,382 Orange 98 Volusia 548
Osceola 1,435 Volusia 98 Pinellas 578
Brevard 1,484 Polk 109 Duval 588
The PLWHA rate = the number of women in the population divided by
the number of female PLWHAs.
Counties are ranked from highest to lowest rate. (In the report,
data are shown for 22 counties.)

13. Sistas Organizing to Survive (SOS)
• We encouraged every
black woman to take
the pledge to get
educated, get tested
and to educate others
about HIV/AIDS.
• Goal to test 100,000
black women each
year by 2010.

14. Table 1. PLWHA Rates Among Men Aged 13+ Years, By County
and Race/Ethnicity, Top Ten Counties, Florida, Through 2008*
White Men One in… Black Men One in… Hispanic Men One in…
Monroe 55 Miami-Dade 29 Miami-Dade 82
Miami-Dade 60 Palm Beach 31 Monroe 90
Broward 76 Saint Lucie 32 Broward 98
Orange 109 Collier 41 Florida 117
Hillsborough 157 Broward 42 Martin 128
Pinellas 177 Florida 44 Orange 130
Florida 209 Indian River 48 Palm Beach 154
Duval 212 Monroe 49 Pinellas 170
Escambia 238 Lee 52 Osceola 174
Palm Beach 248 Martin 53 Hillsborough 177
Osceola 294 Orange 55 Collier 183

17. Faith Initiative
• African Methodist
Episcopal (AME)
Church
• General Baptist
State Convention
• Florida’s Chapters
of the Southern
Christian Leadership
Conference (SCLC)

19. Number of HIV Tests in Publicly Funded Sites
200,000
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000 Whites
100,000 Blacks
80,000 Hispanics
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

20. Adult HIV Case Rates per 100,000 Population
By Race/Ethnicity and Year of DIAGNOSIS,
Florida 2001 – 2010
160
140
120 Black, non-Hispanic
Rate per 100,000
100
80
White, non-Hispanic Hispanic
60
40
20
0
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
Year of Diagnosis
From 2001-2010, among blacks there has been an overall 39% decrease in the HIV case rate of newly
diagnosed cases of HIV statewide (and declines in most counties). The racial/ethnic gap has been
closing: In 2001, the HIV case rate among blacks was 10 times greater than that among whites, but in
2010, it was only 6 times greater. Data as of 12/31/10

21. Community Mobilization Outcomes
• St. Lucie County changed school board
policy.
• In 2010, nearly 104,000 HIV test among
black women.
• More involvement from churches,
fraternities/sororities, civil rights group,
HBCUs, and others

22. Again…
“…Collection and analysis
of data should not be allowed to
consume resources if action
does not follow.”

23. Ronald Henderson
850-245-4433
ronald_henderson@doh.state.fl.us
Department of Health
Bureau of HIV/AIDS
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/aids (Website)