My research on AIDS in New York City began with me answering questions pertaining to cases in my zip code. My perception was extremely skewed. When asked how many cumulative AIDS cases since 1980 have been diagnosed in zip code 10029, I answered 450 people. The total number is in fact 3,082 people, with women contributing 937 to the total, over double my total guess. The total rate of infection in my zip code is 4,088 (Ref. Table 1) for every 100,000 people; the cumulative rate for the US is only 328 cases per 100,000, while the average for Manhattan is 3,037(Ref. Table 1) cases per 100,000. When guessing, I forgot that Spanish Harlem and other parts of Harlem are a part of my zip code, including many projects on the East River. There are 1,630 Hispanics (Ref. Table 2) and 1,215 blacks (Ref. Table 3) living in my zip code with HIV/AIDS, this means only 7% of the zip code’s inhabitants are white. Having forgotten about a large portion of the community, my numbers make a little more sense. The rate that Hispanics contract the virus is 3,755 (Ref. Table 2) per 100,000 (the national average is 502 per 100,000 and the rate for blacks is 4,670 (Ref. Table 3) per 100,000 (1,117 per 100,000[1] is the national average).
The median income of 10029 is $22,232[2], the third lowest average in Manhattan; compared to zip code 10280, which has the highest income of $108,536[3] and a rate of 665 (Ref. Table 1) cases per 100,000. In 10280 AIDS spread via intravenous drug use to 0% of the community, however, 53%[4] (Ref. Table 4) of 10029 victims contracted the virus this way. I was completely unaware of the amount of drug users in my area until Professor Yoshino gave me information on New York; I guessed that only 7% of cases would result from drug use.
Next I looked at the incidence of cases among women compared to men. In Manhattan, men constitute 83% of HIV/AIDS victims, while women are 17% (Ref. Table 1). When asked what percent of cumulative AIDS cases since 1980 in zip code 10029 are females, my guess of 48% overshot by 18%. The number of men living together comprises only 0.33%[5] of its population, much lower than what I would expect. Interestingly, zip code 10014 has the highest rate of male infections, 98% (Ref. Table 5), while only 3%[6] of its residents are men living together. The zip code with the highest rate of men living together, 3.8%[7] of the population, has the second highest rate of infection, 7,812 (Ref. Table 1) per 100,000. This zip code, 10011, is located in Chelsea, an area known to be liberal, artistic, and predominately gay neighborhood. Professor Yoshino asked where I expected the most cumulative AIDS cases, Chelsea was my answer. In 10011, the amount of infections due to MSM, men having sex with men, is 78% and is 24%[8] (Ref. Table 6) (the second lowest in Manhattan) in 10029. The combination of low income and drug use appears to be a leading cause in 10029’s spreading of AIDS.
