A close look at the numbers reveals a troubling reality: In the U.S., Black women are impacted by HIV at an alarming rate, more so than women of any other race or ethnicity.
Yet, when it comes to HIV prevention efforts—where we’ve generally witnessed tremendous strides in recent years—Black women are painfully overlooked. Study after study and story after story reveal that not only are Black women often unaware that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) exists, but that health care providers rarely take the time to discuss HIV risk and prevention with them.
At TheBody and TheBodyPro, our coverage is dedicated to confronting the unique barriers Black women face in accessing HIV preventive options, including structural racism and misogynoir. With the help of providers and advocates, we’ll also provide resources that help Black women feel seen, heard, and supported in their search for better, more equitable care.
—Ginger Skinner, Science Editor
On TheBody
Doctor Silent About HIV and PrEP? Here’s How Black Women Can Self-Advocate
If you are a Black woman, and your doctor doesn’t mention incorporating HIV prevention into your care, these questions may help guide the conversation.
To Tackle HIV Among Black Women, We Must Tackle the Racial Disparity Behind Bars
The collective harms of racism within mass incarceration contribute greatly to disproportionate HIV prevalence and outcomes within Black communities.
Black Women Should Get to Decide Whether PrEP Is an Option
Despite Black women’s increased risk for HIV in the U.S., they are not being told about medication to prevent it.
Medical Racism Was Meant to Hurt Black Women—And It Does
We need to take an active approach as a society to end health disparities among Black women that are caused by racism.
Older Black Women Aren’t Being Told About PrEP to Prevent HIV
Stereotypes, neglect, and lack of outreach are standing in the way of older Black women’s access to this prevention tool.
Left Out and UnPrEPared
Black women are at greater risk for HIV, but many are not informed about PrEP as an option for HIV prevention.
Medical Racism, Casual or Overt, Has No Place in Patients’ Lives
“They’re not treating you like a human being or someone who has a son and loved ones, careers, and dreams. You’re just a Black statistic to them. And that is so painful.”
On TheBodyPro (For Health Care Providers)
Among Women in the U.S., Race and Place Play an Outsized Role in New HIV Infections
Beyond the big-picture improvements, a closer look at the data reveals stark racial and geographic disparities in HIV incidence and prevalence.
‘PrEP for Women Too’ Campaign Aims to Bring This Empowering HIV Prevention Tool to More Black and Latinx Women
Despite PrEP being safe to take for people of all genders, there’s still a lag in uptake among cisgender women.
We Need to Talk About Racism as a Barrier to HIV Prevention and Care for Black Women
HIV infection rates among Black women in the U.S. have fallen sharply over the past decade, but look closer and the numbers still paint a troubling story.
Real Talk at SYNChronicity 2020: Black Women Are Essential to Eliminating HIV
Open conversations between care providers and Black women are vitally important in order to empower women with information about HIV and how to protect their health.
Black Women in Atlanta Need More PrEP Access. Researchers and Advocates Are Working to Make This a Reality.
While most pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) campaigns focus on gay and bisexual men, Fulton County Board of Health officials and advocates look for solutions to get PrEP to black women.
Let's Advance the Conversation Among Black Women on HIV and PrEP
With black women at far greater risk for HIV than women of any other race or ethnicity, health organizations should think more creatively about how to bring them HIV and PrEP information.