Montgomery County has the largest rate of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the state, according to new data from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).
The data shows Montgomery County reported 39 new cases in the first half of the year. ADPH collects the data from public health offices in the state’s 67 counties.
Additionally, physicians, dentists, nurses, medical examiners, hospital administrators, nursing home administrators, lab directors, school principals and daycare directors are responsible for reporting cases as a part of the state’s Notifiable Diseases rules.
Data collection and reporting came from ADPH after then-Gov. Robert Bentley created the Alabama HIV/AIDS Prevention Task Force by executive order in 2011.
The reported cases are reported mainly among men, who comprise nearly 79% of the total reported cases in the state. The majority of new cases were reported in the 30-39 age range, with 20-24 coming in second. News cases, as well as cumulative cases, affect a higher percentage of the black population, who comprise 62% of the total cases and 58% of new cases.
Unsurprisingly, the most significant percentage of new cases involve the official classification of “men who have sex with men,” comprising 58% of new cases; 60% when combined with men who both have sex with men and use intravenous drugs. For comparison, heterosexual contact only accounts for 20% of total cases.
The data is spread across the eight state health districts. Jefferson and Mobile Counties count as their own districts, while most others include several cumulative counties. Jefferson reported 43 new cases in the first half of 2024, with a rate of six when accounting for population. Mobile had only 20 new cases, while Montgomery County showed 39 new cases, with a staggering rate of 17. Montgomery makes up nearly 60% of all the HIV cases in the district. While Montgomery has more new cases than any other county in the state besides Jefferson, it remains the third-highest in total HIV cases in the state.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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