HIV risk behaviors in African American males.

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection is the fifth leading cause of death for people who are 25-44 years in the United States, and is the leading cause of death for African American men ages 35-44. The incidence rates for HIV among African Americans are steadily increasing, despite wide-spread campaigns to educate the public about the disease. The purpose of this article is to review the epidemiology and statistics related to HIV/AIDS, as well as changes in the epidemic among African American males. A review of the literature was conducted which specifically focused on HIV risk behaviors, changing patterns of behavior, and risk modification among African American males. Opportunities for future research are also detailed.