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Topic: Is Anyone Dying of AIDS
Anymore?
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) estimate that 850,000 to
950,000 U.S. residents are living with
HIV infection as of February 2002,
one-quarter of whom are unaware of their
infection.
Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections
occur each year in the United States,
about 70 percent among men and 30 percent
among women. Of these newly infected
people, half are younger than 25 years of
age.
Of new infections among men in the United
States, CDC estimates that approximately
60 percent of men were infected through
homosexual sex, 25 percent through
injection drug use, and 15 percent
through heterosexual sex. Of newly
infected men, approximately 50 percent
are black, 30 percent are white, 20
percent are Hispanic, and a small
percentage are members of other
racial/ethnic groups.
Of new infections among women in the
United States, CDC estimates that
approximately 75 percent of women were
infected through heterosexual sex and 25
percent through injection drug use. Of
newly infected women, approximately 64
percent are black, 18 percent are white,
18 percent are Hispanic, and a small
percentage are members of other
racial/ethnic groups.
In the United States, 816,149 cases of
AIDS had been reported to the CDC through
December, 2001.
The estimated number of new
adult/adolescent AIDS cases diagnosed in
the United States was 49,407 in 1997,
42,508 in 1998, 40,671 in 1999, and
40,106 in 2000, 43,158 in 2001.
The number of reported deaths from AIDS
in the last year (2001) in the United
States was 18,524.
(source:
Hard truth about AIDS)
Guest:
Sandra Jacoby Klein
Sandra Jacoby Klein, M.A., M.F.T. is in
private practice in West Hollywood, CA as
a psychotherapist/family therapist who
specializes in the emotional effects of
illness, grief and loss.
She has been working with the
psychosocial issues of HIV/AIDS since
1982 in her practice and as a volunteer
therapist with AIDS service
Organizations. She has been a therapist
for grief support groups, agency staff
support groups and groups for Persons
Living with AIDS (PLWA's).
Her presentations all over the world on
AIDS-related grief and multiple loss
syndrome are increasing understanding of
the unique needs of the populations
dealing with the AIDS pandemic that has
infected millions and affected us all.
She has an interest in supporting HIV
negative persons to remain negative by
increasing their understanding of the
importance of avoiding high-risk
behaviors.
Ms. Klein is a long-term member and past
chairperson of the Human Services
Commission of the City of West Hollywood.
She is a clinical member of AAMFT (
American Association of Marriage and
Family Therapists), CAMFT (California
Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy), ADEC (Association for Death
Education Counseling), and The
International AIDS Society.
Her many publications include her book,
Heavenly Hurts: Surviving AIDS-Related
Deaths and Losses, Baywood Publishing Co;
and articles on Gay Grief, Multiple Loss,
and Care for the Caregivers.
She can be contacted at (310) 652-2501.
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