
Living Well Black celebrates National HIV Testing Day! This is a day to focus on the importance of knowing your HIV status. Our community experiences a higher rate of many diseases and conditions, including HIV/AIDS. Black women face a higher risk. Here are some numbers….
In the United States:
- In 2021, Black women accounted for 53% of new HIV diagnoses among women aged 16 and older. (Source: Gilead)
- Although Black Americans represent almost 13 percent of the U.S. population, we account for 42.1 percent of HIV infection cases in 2019.
- In 2020, Black people were 7.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV compared to white people.
- African American males have 8.1 times the AIDS rate compared to white males.
- African American females have 15 times the AIDS rate as compared to white females.
- African American men are 6.0 times as likely to die from HIV infection as non-Hispanic white men.
- African American women are 15.3 times as likely to die from HIV infection as white women. (Source: CDC)
Why are Black Women at Higher Risk? History and Broken Trust….
A look at history can shed light on the complicated relationship Black women have with the U.S. medical system. When it comes to HIV, Black women are at higher risk due, in part, to historical mistreatment and lack of trust for doctors. For much of the past, Black women have lacked control over our own bodies. From slavery — to medical procedures conducted without consent — centuries of exploitation still affect how many Black women approach issues related to sex today. A lot of research on the sexual behavior of Black women overlooks medical mistrust. There is a deep wound that needs healing in the Black community. This lack of trust makes it less likely for us to talk about HIV and testing for other sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, we have a lower use rate for HIV prevention methods. For example, if a young Black woman is offered a treatment like “Pre-Exposure Phylaxis” or “PrEP” to prevent HIV, she may be wary of the treatment and even the explanation for why it’s needed. The lower use of HIV prevention methods do not reflect a lack of care about personal health. Instead, it can be a method of self-protection in a world that has caused serious harm.
Across Black Womanhood
Black transgender women have higher rates of HIV compared to other transgender groups. A two-year study from 2018 showed that HIV is about twice as common among Black transgender women. Getting proper health care is a challenge especially when trangender people and transgender health treatments often are under attack. Race and gender based discrimination makes it harder to seek medical help.
“Righting” the Wrongs
Addressing HIV in Black women means facing old wrongs and building trust in healthcare. By teaching about the disease, reducing shame, and rebuilding trust in the healthcare system, we can help Black women embrace our health and have confidence when seeking help from medical professionals. This is important to make sure everyone, no matter their race or gender, can get the healthcare they need and live their best lives.
Why Get Tested?
Finding out your status, especially if you are HIV+, allows you to be empowered and take charge of your health! Knowing your status allows you to protect partners, and obtain treatment during a pregnancy. At this time an HIV infection lasts a lifetime. However, an infection can be controlled with proactive medical care and proper management allowing those infected to live long, healthy lives. You can read more about living with HIV here. (Source: CDC)
Every day, but especially today, Living Well Black encourages you to be empowered! Get tested and know your HIV status!

Sources:
Gilead Announces Funding Initiative to Support HIV Prevention, Anti-Stigma and Health Equity Efforts for Black Cisgender and Transgender Women and Girls in the U.S., Press Release, Business Wire, February 27, 2024.
Opara, I., Abrams, J. A., Cross, K., & Amutah-Onukagha, N. (2021). Reframing Sexual Health for Black Girls and Women in HIV/STI Prevention Work: Highlighting the Role of Identity and Interpersonal Relationships. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 12088. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212088
HIV/AIDS and African Americans; What is HIV/AIDS, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/hivaids-and-african-americans
Wirtz, A. L., Humes, E., Althoff, K. N., Poteat, T. C., Radix, A., Mayer, K. H., Schneider, J. S., Haw, J. S., Wawrzyniak, A. J., Cannon, C. M., Stevenson, M., Cooney, E. E., Adams, D., Case, J., Beyrer, C., Laeyendecker, O., Rodriguez, A. E., Reisner, S. L., & American Cohort to Study HIV Acquisition Among Transgender Women (LITE) Study Group (2023). HIV incidence and mortality in transgender women in the eastern and southern USA: a multisite cohort study. The lancet. HIV, 10(5), e308–e319. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00008-5