Background: Social and health inequities predispose vulnerable populations to adverse morbidity and mortality outcomes of epidemics and pandemics. While racial disparities in cumulative incidence (CmI) and mortality from the influenza pandemics of 1918 and 2009 implicated Blacks with survival disadvantage relative to Whites in the United States, COVID-19 currently indicates comparable disparities. We aimed to: (a) assess COVID-19 CmI by race, (b) determine the Black–White case fatality (CF) and risk differentials, and (c) apply explanatory model for mortality risk differentials. Methods: COVID-19 data on confirmed cases and deaths by selective states health departments were assessed using a cross-sectional ecologic design. Chi-square was used for CF independence, while binomial regression model for the Black–White risk differentials. Results: The COVID-19 mortality CmI indicated Blacks/AA with 34% of the total mortality in the United States, albeit their 13% population size. The COVID-19 CF was higher among Blacks/AA relative to Whites; Maryland, (2.7% vs. 2.5%), Wisconsin (7.4% vs. 4.8%), Illinois (4.8% vs. 4.2%), Chicago (5.9% vs. 3.2%), Detroit (Michigan), 7.2% and St. John the Baptist Parish (Louisiana), 7.9%. Blacks/AA compared to Whites in Michigan were 15% more likely to die, CmI risk ratio (CmIRR) = 1.15, 95% CI, 1.01–1.32. Blacks/AA relative to Whites in Illinois were 13% more likely to die, CmIRR = 1.13, 95% CI, 0.93–1.39, while Blacks/AA compared to Whites in Wisconsin were 51% more likely to die, CmIRR = 1.51, 95% CI, 1.10–2.10. In Chicago, Blacks/AA were more than twice as likely to die, CmIRR = 2.24, 95% CI, 1.36–3.88. Conclusion: Substantial racial/ethnic disparities are observed in COVID-19 CF and mortality with Blacks/AA disproportionately affected across the United States.

Background: As part of qualitative research for developing a culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate videotape-based HIV prevention intervention for heterosexual African-American men, six focus groups were conducted with thirty African-American men to determine their perceptions of AIDS as a threat to the African-American community, characteristics of past situations that have placed African Americans at risk for HIV infection, their personal high risk behaviors, and suggestions on how HIV intervention videotapes could be produced to achieve maximum levels of interest among African-American men in HIV training programs.

OBJECTIVE: Plateau in testicular cancer incidence in some parts of the United States (US) especially among non-Hispanic white males in Los Angeles had been observed. We conducted three decades temporal trends analysis to assess the evidence of such a plateau, and to examine whether the rate remains stable across racial/ethnic groups as well as the influence of age at diagnosis on the incidence rate. STUDY DESIGN:Population-based temporal trends analysis. METHODS:Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), we identified between 1975 and 2004, 16,580 of newly diagnosed testicular cancer cases, aged 15−49 years. The incidence rates were examined by calculating the age-adjusted rates and their 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for the age at diagnosis, SEER areas, and race by the year of diagnosis. The percent change and annual percent change were examined for trends. RESULTS:Incidence of testicular cancer continues to increase among US males, albeit the plateau of the 1990s. Between 1975 and 2004 the age-adjusted incidence rate for ages, 15−49 years increased from 2.9 (1975) to 5.1(2004) per 100,000. The trends indicated a percent change of 71.9% and a statistically significant annual percent change of 1.6 %,( 95% CI, 1.3−2.0), p < 0.05. Though the rates in blacks remained strikingly low, 0.3 to 1.4 per 100,000, the highest annual percent change was observed among blacks, 2.3%, (95%, CI, 0.8−3.9), p < 0.05 for trends. The rates were intermediate among Asians/ Pacific Islanders and American Indian and Alaska Natives 0.7 to 2.9 per 100,000, percent change (117.3%) and a statistically significant annual change of 1.5%, (95% CI, 0.3−2.7) p < 0.05 for trends. The highest rates were reported among Whites, 3.2 to 6.3 per 100,000, percent change (90.4%) , with a statistically significant annual percent change of 2.0%, (95% CI, 1.6 −2.3), p < 0.05. The peak age at diagnosis was, 30−34 years while the lowest rates were reported in

Appropriate and consistent use of condom remains an effective approach to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) intervention. We analyzed the baseline data gathered for a situationally based HIV/AIDS intervention to assess the potential predictors of condom use among the Uniformed Services Personnel in Nigeria. Using condom purchase as a proxy for intention to use condom, we examined the distribution of the demographic and lifestyle characteristics, knowledge of HIV transmission mode, and knowledge of how to correctly use a condom. A univariable logistic regression was used to identify the potential predictors, followed by multivariable logistic regression modeling. The knowledge of how to correctly wear a condom was the most significant positive predictor of the intention to use a condom (adjusted prevalence odds ratio (APOR), 5.99 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26, 19.79). The other main positive predictors of intent to use a condom were the knowledge of the mode of HIV transmission via blood, APOR 2.43 (95% CI, 1.01, 5.82), saliva (5. 87, 95% CI, 3.15, 10.94), and pre-ejaculatory fluid (APOR, 3.58, 95% CI, 1.67, 7.48). Male gender was also a significant positive predictor of the intent to use a condom (APOR, 2.55, (95% CI, 1.10, 5.97)). The results further indicated alcohol use (APOR, 0.32, 95%CI, 0.16, 0.61), marijuana use (APOR, 0.24, 95% CI, 0.11, 0.56), and the frequency of oral sexual behavior (APOR, 0.006, 95%CI, 0.002, 0.019) as negative predictors of the intent to use a condom. Therefore, these findings suggest that for an HIV/AIDS intervention to be effective in this population, it must incorporate these predictor variables into its design and conduct.