African American Women and HIV/AIDS: Critical Responses

Examines the impact of HIV/AIDS among African American women. AIDS is the second leading cause of death among African American women between the ages of 18 and 44, and African American women constitute 63 percent of all cases of AIDS among women in the United States. This volume brings together the collective wisdom of scholars, researchers, and social work professionals dealing with these concerns, and it seeks to focus attention on the primary population of women impacted by AIDS and to present culturally senstive responses that meet the specific needs of African American women. The collection begins with an historical and current overview of the alarming HIV infection rate among African Americans, in particular women. The remaining chapters highlight HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention strategies that are successfully impacting the African American population. Grounded in social construction theory, social work theory and practice, and guided by a feminist perspective, the volume seeks to privilege the voice of African American women, the group that is the most disenfranchised and least represented accurately in AIDS-related research and writing. This is an important guide for scholars, students, researchers, and practitioners involved with HIV/AIDS issues in the African American community, and with women’s and black studies.