African Americans are one of the largest minority groups at risk for HIV/AIDS. Of the 43,171 cases diagnosed in 2003 in the United States, African Americans accounted for 49 percent of these diagnosed cases. When examining the cumulative cases of HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic, African Americans have comprised 40 percent of the 929,169 cases. As reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the greatest factors affecting HIV/AIDS transmission in the African American community are male-to-male sexual contact in males and heterosexual contact in females. Other risk factors and prevention barriers include substance abuse, denial about sexuality, and socioeconomic situations.