The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the top 25 cities in the United States with high HIV and AIDS rates. Nashville came in at number 22.

Experts said the high numbers are linked to several factors including poverty, education, limited access to health care in rural areas and drug abuse.

The southern U.S. has the highest HIV diagnoses rate of any other region, yet the population of the South only accounts for about 37% of the population.

Right now, more than 21,000 Tennesseans are living with HIV or AIDS.

Source: 

Partner Station WMSR