The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) responded today to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) latest report indicating that there are an estimated 40% more people living with HIV in the United States than previously thought. These new figures were gathered by the CDC using improved technology and methodology. The CDC’s report shows the largest population representing new HIV infection were young people aged 29 and under, indicating that existing pubic education efforts surrounding HIV prevention must be updated to be more relevant and effective at reaching youth as well as increased in breadth and depth to reach this demographic.
“The National Youth Advocacy Coalition applauds the Center for Disease Control for providing the most accurate information on the status of our country’s HIV epidemic, but we are extremely concerned about the implications of these new numbers,” said Greg Varnum, NYAC’s acting executive director. “These latest figures clearly show that Americans aged 29 and under are not adequately or effectively engaged by existing methods of public education around HIV prevention and the importance of HIV testing. In this electronic era of MySpace, Facebook, Sidekicks and text messaging, NYAC will be taking a leading role in delivering public health messages to Gen Y through the technologies they use everyday.”
The CDC report indicates that 34% of new HIV infections are among people ages 29 and under, more than any other age group. African Americans, who comprise 13% of the US population, accounted for 45% of new HIV infections.
These latest figures show the critical importance of expanding the work NYAC and other organizations have undertaken to increase awareness of HIV prevention and testing among youth, and in particular, youth of color. During the last budget cycle, Congress opted out of increasing funding for CDC’s HIV prevention efforts despite numerous calls from health advocates for them to do so.
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition, the social justice organization working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build the capacity of the LGBTQ youth movement, has been a CDC funded capacity building agency for a several of years. “You Know Different”, NYAC’s most recent social marketing program to increase awareness of the need to be tested among LGBTQ youth of color, was the recipient of the 2006 Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil Award.
“The data regarding the infection rate of young people is conservative at best,” continued Varnum. “Abstinence-only education has distorted young people’s perception of their need to be tested, and those who want to truly reach the younger demographic must modernize awareness efforts to more effectively utilize social marketing, online, and wired strategies so youth understand that HIV testing is a critical component of HIV prevention.”
More information about NYAC and the “You Know Different” campaign can be found online at YouKnowDifferent.org.
