New data is in that goes all the way back to the 1980s. What does it reveal? That married men were less likely to die from AIDS than single men. The 1980s are an important era to look at the effect of the disease since it was at its peak in the United States at that time.

Women saw a completely different set of factors that affected death rate. While married and single women appear to have been at the same risk, race was definitely a factor, with minorities far more likely to die from the disease. In fact, risk was 700% higher for Latin women and 900% higher for African American women than for their Caucasian counterparts. Race also made a difference when it came to the men, but nowhere near as much. For Latin men the increased risk was 200%. For African American men it was about 270% compared to Caucasian males.

This is the first time that the mortality rate of AIDS was compared based off of marital status. While the data is nearly three decades old, it has only just recently been released for evaluation. Researchers are very interested in this information because of the time period. With no real treatment options, other factors in mortality rate of the disease are more clearly noticeable.

Mortality rate also changed based off of why a man was single. A divorced or widowed man faced a 600% greater risk of death from AIDS, while men who never married were 1,350% more likely to die from the disease.

Thus the primary risk among women existed for African American women, but the primary risk among men was in the single and never married community. Researchers blame the discrepancy on lack of accurate knowledge about the disease as well as health care advantages for the wealthy. Women from minority groups are more likely to be poor and suffer from insufficient health care. Many could not seek medical help, or didn’t see the need to, until the disease had reached a critical stage.

As a result a spotlight has been placed on a correlation between skin color and health care. Cancer studies that show higher mortality rates for minorities only help cement the point.