Share this: 
Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx women have disproportionate rates of HIV
Black women and Hispanic/Latinx women are disproportionately affected by HIV. According to HIV.gov, annual HIV infections remained stable overall among Black women from 2017 to 2021. Still, the rate of new HIV infections among Black women is 10 times that of white women and four times that of Hispanic/Latinx women.
Statistics from Getting to Zero Illinois regarding new HIV diagnoses among selected populations show that Black women made up 25% of all new diagnoses among all sexes in 2021 and Hispanic/Latinx women made up 11% of all new diagnoses in 2021. Black and Hispanic/Latinx women may avoid getting tested and seeking treatment because of poverty, immigration status, HIV stigma, and other social determinants of health.
PrEP can reduce the risk of contracting HIV
Black women face the highest risk of HIV and other STIs compared to women of other groups. Discrimination, poverty, and stigma prevent many Black women from receiving the care they need. PrEP, when taken as prescribed, can reduce the risk of contracting HIV through sex by 99%; however, less than 2% of Black cisgender women use it.
Long-standing systemic barriers, such as racism and stigma, are major barriers to Black women receiving information about and access to PrEP. Black women are also frequently overlooked by the healthcare system – obstacles include non-inclusive marketing that leads to lack of awareness, doctors wary of prescribing PrEP due to HIV stigma, and fewer treatment options for women than men.
Taking PrEP requires multiple healthcare visits for testing, which can be a barrier for Black women due to higher levels of poverty and lack of resources. The cost of PrEP can also be staggering – although most insurance plans, Medicaid, and state programs like PrEP4Illinois will cover the costs of PrEP for the user.
In addition to discrimination and poverty, Black women also face social stigma that may prevent them from receiving crucial HIV services. In conservative areas, HIV may still be an uncomfortable subject for doctors and nurse practitioners. Social stigma surrounding HIV can also prevent Black women from talking about it with their family and friends.
To combat these barriers, multiple organizations in the U.S. specifically serve Black women living with HIV, such as the Black Women First Initiative, The Eboni Study, and the Black Women’s Health Imperative. Community-based interventions are also vital to improve education about PrEP, which decreases stigma and increases PrEP uptake. In addition, access to good jobs, affordable healthcare, and stable housing may increase Black women’s access to PrEP.
Learn more about social determinants of health at Illinois HIV Care Connect’s Good Health is More Than Health Care web pages.
