AIDS mortality in North Carolina, 1988-92

              No. 91 January 1995
AIDS MORTALITY IN NORTH CAROLINA, 1988-92
Elizabeth Barnett, Ph.D.
ABSTRACT
JM* 24 W95
.. f. 3RARY
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has emerged as a leading cause of death for young
adults in the United States. A detailed examination of AIDS mortality in North Carolina has not
previously been published. In this report, sociodemographic patterns of AIDS mortality in North
Carolina were investigated for the 5-year period 1988-1992.
Young adults aged 25-44 accounted for 78 percent of AIDS deaths in North Carolina during the
study period. AIDS mortality rates were higher among men than women, and much higher among
blacks compared to whites. AIDS mortality increased rapidly among adults aged 25-44 during the 5-
year study period, becoming the leading cause of death among black men, the second leading cause of
death among black women, and the fourth leading cause of death among white men by 1992. AIDS
mortality was associated with a higher social class position (white collar employment and college
education) among young black men and white men, but not among young black women. Geographi-cally,
the highest AIDS mortality rates were found in the eastern region of the state, while the greatest
number of AIDS deaths were concentrated in North Carolina's largest cities.
AIDS has afflicted North Carolinians of all ages, races, and social class positions, although young
black men have suffered the highest mortality from AIDS. AIDS deaths have occurred to residents of
almost all of North Carolina's 100 counties. While state AIDS mortality rates are still below the
national average, the findings of this study emphasize that AIDS is a growing public health problem
in North Carolina.
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
Dr. Barnett was supported by a Healthy People 2000 Data Initiative grant from the National Center for Health Statistics at
the time of this study. Dr. Michael J. Symons of the Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina School of
Public Health, provided statistical consultation.
i^»A NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT. HEALTH. AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEHNB