Black Women & HIV
As black women, you are 15 more times likely as white women and 5 times as likely as a Latino women to be diagnosed with HIV. HIV is the leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25-34. In addition to the physical symptoms associated with an HIV diagnosis, there are emotional implications of this condition. Newly diagnosed people may have questions related to care, support, and basic needs. Pre-exposure Prophylaxis is a medication for people who are at risk of contracting HIV and can be highly effective and women of color may highly benefit from this treatment. Men ages 25-44 are more likely to use PREP than their black, female counterparts. (AIDSVu, 2022). Since, Black women continue to the fastest growing group in HIV diagnoses, PrEP my be a viable option for prevention.
Here are some ways that you can start the dialogue with your physician/provider about PrEP.
1. Discuss the benefits and adverse effects of PrEP.
2. Ask if PrEP is a viable option for your risk category.
3. Explore educational resources on PrEP.
4. Evaluate randomized control studies on black women who have utilized PrEP and the outcome of those studies.
5. Plan for follow-up for further discussion if needed.
6. Be Empowered and take control in your reproductive health.
Comments
Post a Comment