AAHP’s HIV/AIDS/STI focus area addresses sexual health broadly, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS. When compared with other races and ethnicities, African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections at all stages of disease--from new infections to deaths. At some point in their lives, an estimated 1 in 16 Black men and 1 in 32 Black women will be diagnosed with HIV. In 2010, an estimated 1 in 264 Montgomery County residents over age 13 were diagnosed with HIV. Though Black adults and adolescents comprise about 16% of the County's population, they represent 66% of the diagnoses.

African Americans have a higher rate of STD infection than other racial/ethnic groups. In 2014, 55.4% of gonorrhea cases occurred among Blacks, making the rate more more than 10 times than it was among Whites. Rates of chlamydia and syphilis were also significantly higher for Blacks than Whites in 2014.

HPV, (or human papillomavirus), is the most common STI and the most common cause of cervical cancer in some women. Black women have higher rates of cervical-cancer related deaths than White women.

AAHP provides free and confidential HIV testing for Montgomery County residents throughout the County. We also provide counseling for people who test positive for HIV to delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions from emerging.

Information for adolescents and parents/caregivers on appropriate sexual behaviors, STI prevention, and healthy interpersonal relationships: