• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Find A Doctor
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home / Health Conditions / HIV/AIDS / Our Girls Matter: Making Progress Against HIV Among Girls & Women

Our Girls Matter: Making Progress Against HIV Among Girls & Women

three teen girls

Flash back to the early years of the HIV epidemic, a small clinic in any city, USA.  A young woman sits quietly in a cramped office waiting for her counselor to give her the results from recent tests. She wonders: why have they called me back. I did have sex, I guess I could have gotten some STD, but they can cure STDs can’t they – so I am not going to worry …. She looked up at the sound of the door opening.

READ: Sister To Sister: Black Women Talking One-On-One Is Part Of HIV Prevention

A woman holding a manila folder entered, closed the door behind her, and sat down. She opened the folder, looked at it briefly, then looked at the young girl. “Hi Tanya. Thanks for coming in.” She paused and placed the folder on the desk.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but your HIV test came back positive.”

You May Also Like
9 Foods You Should Never Eat after Age 30

Tanya looked at the counselor, not really seeing her, she could feel her heart rate begin to speed up and her breathing became fast and shallow – all she could think was. But I’m a GIRL! Girls don’t get HIV! I can’t be HIV positive! But she was.

READ: Sheryl Lee Ralph: Center Stage In The HIV/AIDS Fight

We learned quickly that, yes, women and girls can and do get HIV. Today, 1 in 5 persons living with HIV in the United States are women or adolescent girls. In 2014, more than 9,500 women age 13 and older were diagnosed with HIV. More than 6 in 10 of those women were Black. Although these are sobering data, there is good news too: From 2005 to 2014, annual HIV diagnoses in women declined:

  • 42% among black women
  • 35% among Hispanic/Latina women
  • 30% among white women
  • 40% among all women
Continue Reading

The Latest In HIV/AIDS

Breaking News: Long-Acting Drug Protects Women From HIV-Infection

Currently in the US, there are two drugs approved for prevention of HIV or PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). Truvada (a combination of tenofovir and FTC) is approved for women and men and Descovy (a combination of tenofovir alafenamide and FTC) is read more about Breaking News: Long-Acting Drug Protects Women From HIV-Infection
blood test that reads positive for HIV

The HIV Test: Basic Facts You Need To Know

A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test detects antibodies to HIV or the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of HIV in the blood or another type of sample. This determines whether an HIV infection is present (HIV-positive). But what don't you read more about The HIV Test: Basic Facts You Need To Know

HIV and The Gut Microbiome: Prebiotics and Probiotics

In the previous article, I introduced the microbiome. To review, recall that our bodies are essentially a reservoir of billions, even trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms (viruses, fungi, parasites). They are essential to helping us stay healthy. Disease occurs read more about HIV and The Gut Microbiome: Prebiotics and Probiotics

First-Time Ever! Woman Cured of HIV with NO Medication or Transplant

A woman who was infected with HIV in 1992 may be the first person cured of the virus without any sort of medication or any kind of transplant whatsoever, researchers reported on this week. Many are claiming that it's was read more about First-Time Ever! Woman Cured of HIV with NO Medication or Transplant
african american nurse in an emergency room

Secrets The ER Staff Won’t Tell You

What’s the worst thing you can say to the nurse in an emergency room? Ever wonder what really happens behind closed curtains in the emergency room? What really goes on in the ER—and on the way there? Below, doctors, nurses read more about Secrets The ER Staff Won’t Tell You

Another HIV Cure?

The 23rd International AIDS Conference, originally scheduled for San Francisco/Oakland in late July was held virtually in early July 2020 (Yuck! I’m getting sick of virtual conferences!). Among the very interesting scientific and medical developments presented was the case of read more about Another HIV Cure?

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • Rihanna: The Healthy “Thick” Weight PlanRihanna: The Healthy "Thick" Weight Plan
  • 10 Cities With The Highest HIV Rates10 Cities With The Highest HIV Rates
  • Mrs. Parker From ‘Friday’ at 70 & Still Turning Heads!Mrs. Parker From 'Friday' at 70 & Still Turning Heads!
  • Best-Selling Author, Eric Jerome Dickey, Dead at 59Best-Selling Author, Eric Jerome Dickey, Dead at 59
  • 14 Most-Overlooked HIV Symptoms14 Most-Overlooked HIV Symptoms

Podcast

Diabetes prevention and management podcast

Dr. LeNoir is joined by Dr. Lenore Coleman, a Pharmacist and Founder of Healing Our Village, as they offer you the tools you need to prevent and manage diabetes.

Listen Now

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2021, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.