Addressing HIV and STD in the African American Population

HEALTH COMMUNICATION AND ADOVCACY: HLTH 634

Addressing HIV and STD in the African American Population

By

VERONICA SPIKES, BS, MPH

at

Liberty University

June 5, 2016

Spikes1

Addressing HIV and STD in the African American Population

Spikes2

Introduction
Health disparity can be defined as the gaps in the quality of the health because difference in
socioeconomic status, racial background, ethic background, and educational level. Health disparities are
established in environments that lack accessibility to health care, occupational exposure which increase risk
of disease, and increased risk from underlying genetic, ethnic, or ancestral factors.1 These disparities often
affect how frequently a disease affects groups, how many people will go sick, and how often the disease
causes death. Populations typically affected by these disparities include: racial minorities, ethnic minorities,
rural area residents, men, children, elderly people, and the disabled.2 The purpose of this review is to
address the lack of education concerning HIV infection and sexual behavior in African American male and
the homosexual population.
African Americans have the most severe burden of HIV of all racial groups in the United States.
Compared with ethnicities, African Americans account for a higher population of new HIV diagnoses, those
living with HIV, and those ever diagnosed with AIDS. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with
men (MSM)a represent approximately 2% of the United States population yet are the population most
severely affected by HIV. In 2010, young gay and bisexual men (aged 13-24 years) accounted for 72% of
new HIV infections among all persons aged 13 to 24, and 30% of new infections among all gay and
bisexual men.3 At the end of 2011, an estimated 500,022 (57%) persons living with an HIV diagnosis in the
United States were gay and bisexual men, or gay and bisexual men who also inject drugs. 3
Male who have sex with male, also known as MSM are the group most affected by HIV in the
USA. They account for 68% of all new HIV infections in 2013. The group has seen a rise in new HIV
infections between 2009 and 2013 from 28,000 to 31,000.4
Only 66% of MSM living with HIV in 2011 were aware of their infection, and young MSM aged 18-24
was even less likely to know (49%). There are significant disparities by race as well. 86% of white MSM
were aware of their status, compared to only 63% of Hispanic/Latino MSM and 54% of black/African
American MSM.4 Higher numbers of sexual partners, greater numbers of sexually transmitted infections
and having unprotected anal sex are some of the causes why HIV transmission is more prevalent in MSM. 3
Black/African American men and women are most likely to be infected through unprotected sex with a
man, or by injecting drugs. Other factors such as heightened levels of poverty, lack of access to adequate

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healthcare, and stigma surrounding MSM also increase this group's risk of HIV infection.6
Young black/African American MSM (aged 13 to 24) are most affected. In 2010, they were more than
twice as likely to be infected with HIV as young MSM of any other ethnic group.4 A number of challenges
contribute to the higher rates of HIV infection among African Americans. The greater number of people
living with HIV (prevalence) in African American communities and the fact that African Americans tend to
have sex with partners of the same race/ethnicity mean that African Americans face a greater risk of HIV
infection with each new sexual encounter. African American communities continue to experience higher
rates of other sexually transmitted diseases than other ethnic communities in the United States. Having
another STD can significantly increase a persons chance of getting or transmitting HIV.4
Lack of awareness of HIV status can affect HIV rates in communities. Diagnosis late in the course of HIV
infection is common in African American communities, which results in missed opportunities to get early
medical care and prevent transmission to others. The poverty rate is higher among African Americans than
other ethnic groups. The socioeconomic issues associated with poverty including limited access to highquality health care, housing, and HIV prevention education directly and indirectly increase the risk for HIV
infection and affect the health of people living with and at risk for HIV. These factors may explain why
African Americans have worse outcomes on the HIV continuum of care, including lower rates of linkage to
care, retention in care, being prescribed HIV treatment (ART), and viral suppression. Stigma, fear,
discrimination, homophobia, and negative perceptions about HIV testing may also place many African
Americans at higher risk and discourage testing.5
The SEX RAPE program will be centralized in Central Virginia. It will be a nonprofit program,
that will educate the community about HIV/STD, coordinates services for people with HIV and AIDS and
their families, and support Central Virginia efforts to prevent and treat HIV and AID. Propose interventions
that will be take place are to facilitate Community Needs Assessments of community in Central Virginia
and surrounding community, to provide HIV/Aids prevention classes, group training and seminars for
participants each year, and to conduct evidence based HIV/Aids prevention programs and services in
collaboration with Community Based Organizations with participants each year.

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Body of Evidence
1.

National Institute of Health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Last reviewed
February 4, 2016.Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/about-

2.

nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-institute-allergy-infectious-diseases-niaid.
MedlinePlus. Health Disparities. Last reviewed on December 6, 2013. Last accessed on June 5,
2016. Retrieved from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthdisparities.html.
The National Institute of Health and Medline clarified what health disparities are a why factors
like lack of education and medical resources are reasons why we must tailor this program to this

3.

target population.
Averting HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS in the United States of America (USA). Last reviewed on
May 1, 2015. Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from

4.

http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/western-central-europe-north-america/usa
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. HIV and Injection Drug Use. Last reviewed on April
2015. Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/idu.html

These references explain what HIV and STD are. These references also explain the definition of health
disparities and factors of why HIV and STDs is so prevalent in the United States. All references in the
paper explain why HIV/AIDS in epidemic in the United States that must be addressed.
5.

Center of Disease Control and Prevention. HIV among African American. Last reviewed on
February 2014. Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from

6.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/africanamericans/
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and
Dependent Areas. Last reviewed in 2014. Last accessed on 2014. Retrieved from

7.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-us.pdf.
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Among Gay and Bisexual Men. Last reviewed on
September 29, 2013.Last accessed on June 5, 2016.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html
These references justify what population is severely impacted with HIV and STD. These
references also justify why African American and the gay population is the target population that
must tackle in order to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Center of Disease Control and
Prevention is a resourceful website that was utilized throughout the review and research. All
reference revealed resourceful information that effortlessly presented why the African American

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and gay community must be the target population for this program. The last three references hold
the most prominence throughout this review and research because the gay and bisexual men are
more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States. Among all gay and
bisexual men, black/African American gay and bisexual men bear a disproportionate burden of
HIV.
Summary and Conclusion
The Center of Disease and Control and Prevention was a resourceful website that was utilized to help
readers understand that African Americans are the racial group mostly impacted by HIV in the United
States. Gay and bisexual men population account for more than half of estimated new HIV diagnoses
among African Americans. Among all gay and bisexual men, African American gay and bisexual men
suffer the most burdens in the United States. African Americans have the experience greatest severe burden
of HIV of all racial groups in the United States. Compared with other races, African Americans account for
a highest population of new HIV diagnoses, those living with HIV, and those ever diagnosed with AIDS.
Since the African American gay and bisexual population is impacted the most with the epidemic, The SEX
RAPE program will utilized evidence-based approaches to educate the target population through recruiting
role models to disseminate information and materials to their peers to help them move towards safer sex
practices, use evidence-based prevention programs to effectively curb harmful behaviors. The prevention
activities will help individuals develop intentions and skills to act in a healthy manner, while others help to
nurture an environment that encourages healthy behaviors. These evidence-based prevention programs will
provide participants with increased understanding what HIV/ AIDS is and how to utilized strategies to
protect participants against contracting sexually transmitted diseases and infections through the new Video
Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex program.8 Like the SEX RAPE Awareness
Program, CHAPS Collation for HIV Awareness and Prevention (CHAP) is a nonprofit organization that
educates the public about HIV/AIDS, coordinates services for people with HIV/AIDS, and supports Central
Virginias efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS.9

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Reference
1.

National Institute of Health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Last reviewed February
4, 2016.Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nihalmanac/national-institute-allergy-infectious-diseases-niaid.

Addressing HIV and STD in the African American Population

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2.

MedlinePlus. Health Disparities. Last reviewed on December 6, 2013. Last accessed on June 5, 2016.

3.

Retrieved from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthdisparities.html.

Center of Disease Control and Prevention. HIV and Injection Drug Use. Last reviewed on April 2015. Last

4.

accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/idu.html

Averting HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS in the United States of America (USA). Last reviewed on May 1,
2015. Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-

5.

world/western-central-europe-north-america/usa
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. HIV among African American. Last reviewed on February 2014.
Last accessed on June 5, 2016. Retrieved from

6.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/africanamericans/
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and Dependent
Areas. Last reviewed in 2014. Last accessed on 2014. Retrieved from

7.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-us.pdf.
Center of Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Among Gay and Bisexual Men. Last reviewed on

8.

September 29, 2013.Last accessed on June 5, 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html

FVSU Review. FVSU counseling center to start community based alcohol and STD prevention program.
Last reviewed on October 17, 2014. Last accessed on June 5, 2016.
Retrieved from http://review.fvsu.edu/content/fvsu-counseling-center-start-community-based-alcohol-andstd-prevention-program
9. Coalition for HIV Awareness and Prevention. CHAPS. Last reviewed on 2011. Last accessed on June 1,
2016. Retrieved from http://www.chapcva.org
10. National HIV and AIDS Commission. Last reviewed on June 1, 2016. Last accessed on July 8, 2016.
Retrieved from http://www.nhacbb.org/index.php?categoryid=13