Though many strides have been made in the management of HIV, the medical community is still concerned about the high rates at which Blacks continue to contract the disease. While there are several factors that may affect this issue, you can protect yourself by paying attention to certain key areas that are likely to raise your risk of infection.
How HIV Affects The Black Population
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans still make up the majority of people who are diagnosed with HIV.
In fact, though only 12% of the American population identify as Black, they account for 43% of new diagnoses. Black people were 8 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than white people and twice more likely than Latinos.
In a recent survey, it was found that 42% of those living with HIV were African American and 44% of those who died from the disease’s complications were also Black. The same surveys found that women were more likely to contract HIV than men.
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It’s been suggested that poor access to healthcare is one of the issues that contribute to the high mortality rates of Black people with HIV. There are further numbers that may support this claim.
In 2019, it was found that for every 100 African Americans who had HIV, only 74 were receiving home care. 56 were in specialized care, and 61 were virally suppressed. The average numbers were higher for other ethnicities.
Other factors that can affect the prevention and management of HIV in African American populations include racism, the stigma of being HIV-positive, social issues, and the person’s economic status.
RELATED: Stay Protected Even If It’s Undetected
Recommendations For HIV Prevention
Given how dire the numbers are for African Americans once they’ve been diagnosed, it’s important to do everything you can to prevent getting infected. These are a few suggestions.
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1. Practice Safe Sex
Regardless of the type of sex you’ll be having, you should always protect yourself. It’s important to use condoms every time you’re having sex. Bear in mind that condoms are only effective if
