HIV and AIDS in Black Americans

Just over 1 in 10 Americans are Black, but more than 4 in 10 new HIV infections in the U.S. every year happen in the Black community. In fact, Black men who have sex with men have the highest rates of HIV in the country. Though they make up a very small fraction of the U.S. population, almost 7 in 10 new HIV infections every year happen to them.

HIV risk is greater for Black Americans for several reasons. Statistically, Black Americans are less likely to get high-quality health care and preventive education. They are more likely to face discrimination in the health care system and may not trust the system because of a history of abuse.

A history of mistreatment within the medical system in America affects the Black community’s faith in doctors and clinics. This can make Black people less likely to engage in preventive education, seek out testing, or start HIV treatment if they test positive.

Research shows that the stress of being a member of a minority population raises the risk for health problems, such as heart disease, mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV infection. Black Americans in more than one minority group – such as Black people who are gay or trans – live with even more of this stress.

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medicine you can take to keep you from getting HIV. It’s recommended for HIV-negative people who might get exposed to the virus through sex or injected drugs. Among all Americans who could benefit from PrEP, almost 4 in 10 take it. But fewer than 1 in 10 of the Black Americans who could benefit get a prescription for PrEP.

Black and Hispanic people with HIV are three times more likely to be uninsured than White people who have the virus. People with HIV who have health insurance have better overall health and are more likely to take their medicine and get the virus under control.

Studies show HIV management goes best for those who see an HIV care provider within a month of testing positive. Black Americans are the least likely of all racial and ethnic groups to take action this early.

Statistics show that Black Americans are less likely than other groups to take their medicine consistently. This could be due to lack of health insurance or other things that prevent them from always having medication available.

The goal of HIV treatment is viral suppression. That’s when medicine for HIV brings the level of virus in your bloodstream down so low that even a blood test can’t detect it. When compared to other people with HIV, Black Americans have lower rates of viral suppression.

Connection and information are key to good HIV support and care: Organizations such as the Body HIV/AIDS Resource Center for African-Americans, the Black AIDS Institute (BAI), SisterLove, and the African American AIDS Task Force are focused on HIV and AIDS awareness and research in the Black community specifically.