What is the significance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day?

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed annually on February 7, focuses on HIV prevention, testing, and care within the Black community, which is disproportionately affected by the disease.

Why are Black Americans disproportionately affected by HIV?

Disparities are linked to economic factors, historical mistrust in the healthcare system, lower access to preventive tools like PrEP, and disproportionate criminalization related to HIV.

What is PrEP and why is its uptake low among Black Americans?

PrEP is a drug used to prevent HIV transmission. Uptake is low due to factors including limited public awareness, fewer providers prescribing it, and broader access-to-care challenges.

Home / Health / Black Community Faces HIV Disparities

Black Community Faces HIV Disparities

8 Feb

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Summary

Black Americans disproportionately affected by HIV diagnoses and deaths.
Systemic issues like poverty and historical mistrust hinder care access.
PrEP uptake lags, contributing to ongoing HIV transmission risks.

February 7 marked National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day dedicated to HIV prevention, testing, and care, particularly for a community still disproportionately impacted. In 2023, Black Americans accounted for 38% of HIV diagnoses among individuals aged 13 and older in the U.S., despite comprising only 14% of the population.

Several factors contribute to these stark disparities. Economic challenges, such as higher poverty rates, often lead to reduced access to healthcare and medications essential for viral suppression. Historical mistrust of the medical system, stemming from past unethical practices, further complicates efforts to encourage regular testing and treatment.

Furthermore, Black Americans lag in adopting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a key prevention tool. Lower public awareness, a shortage of prescribing providers, and broader access-to-care issues impede its wider use. While testing rates are higher among Black adults compared to other groups, a significant portion still receive late diagnoses, progressing to AIDS.