Revisiting HIV/AIDS Prevention in Black Community

We want to remind you that an HIV positive diagnosis is not equal to a death sentence, thanks to modern medicine and preventative medications.

Scientists are still searching for a definitive cure for HIV/AIDS. Previous studies have led to the discovery of preventative measures that stop or lower the risk of transmission of the disease. The first day of December every year is designated World AIDS Day—and we have previously highlighted why having an awareness month is important.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2024 is “Take the right path”. The theme is calling on governments around the globe to do the right thing in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially in making sure that people living with the disease have access to the necessary care.

Since the inception of the disease, our community has been disproportionately affected. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans have a higher percentage of diagnosis (39%) and death (43%) from HIV/AIDS compared to whites—notwithstanding they only make up around 12% of the entire nation’s population. This is partly due to late diagnosis and inadequate use of preventative measures.

This underscores the need for increased awareness campaigns, especially on the importance of preventive measures in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS and ensuring healthier Black communities.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis use in Black communities

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP is a medication taken by high-risk people to protect them from getting HIV from unprotected sex. Ironically, While Black adults are at a high risk of contracting HIV, we are also the ones who use PrEP the least.

Recent data shows that we make up 42% of new HIV diagnoses while whites make up 26% of new diagnoses. However, Black adults represent only 14% of PrEP users which is lower than 17% of Hispanic/Latino users and far lower than 65% of white users.

PrEP can lower the risk of getting HIV from sex by around 99% when taken according to prescription and by up to 74% for those who inject drugs. Although PrEP use increased by an average of 56% annually from 2012 to 2021, we are still at the bottom rung of the ladder compared to other racial groups.

But PrEP programs are usually unequally distributed with less focus on minorities—who often face the greatest HIV burden. This unequal distribution of healthcare is often traced back to systemic racism where predominantly Black communities usually lack public amenities like healthcare, green parks, and so on.

In line with the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day, it is time for governments around the world to take the right path by dismantling all the obstacles on the path of equitable distribution of PrEP and other crucial HIV prevention interventions.

Other HIV preventative measures that should be explored in Black communities

Factors like the incarceration epidemic, stigma, limited access to screening centers and care facilities, mistrust of the healthcare system, and believing safe sex myths tend to favor the spread of HIV in our communities. That’s why we must explore the different preventative measures to form a sort of hurdle to cut the chain of infection in our communities. Here are HIV preventative measures that should be promoted in our communities.

Condom: the proper use of male and female condoms during sex is highly effective at preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): these are medications taken after having sex with an infected person
Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC): the one-time procedure lowers the risk of HIV from women to men by around 60%
Dapivirine Vaginal Ring: the ring contains antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). They are placed in the vagina to lower the risk of transmission in women

While the aforementioned HIV preventative measures require some form of medication or specialized intervention, the next set of preventative measures below requires behavioral change.

Abstinence: for those who can, choosing not to have sex is a foolproof preventative measure to stop HIV transmission
Limiting the number of sexual partners: the larger the number of sexual partners you have the higher your risk of getting infected
Don’t share sharp objects: sharp objects can serve as a vehicle that carries the virus from an infected person to an uninfected person
Regular testing: getting regular tests to know your status is important, especially for those who are sexually active, to stop the spread of the virus

We believe raising awareness of the different HIV preventative measures in our communities is important to stop the chain of spread. While getting diagnosed with HIV can be traumatic, we should leverage services like the ones provided by the Black AIDS Institute, GMHC, and TargetHIV to get through the stigma and receive the healthcare support that we need to live healthier and more impactful lives.

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