“The report focuses on what Black communities need to know about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and other new biomedical HIV prevention tools.
Many scientists, doctors and advocates believe that the scientific tools needed to end the AIDS epidemic already exist. Unfortunately, as the persistently unacceptable high rates of new HIV infections underscore, these tools are not being applied effectively in Black communities. While new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. as a whole fell 19 percent between 2005 and 2014, new cases among Black gay and bisexual men, for example, increased by 87 percent.
When used correctly, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV for HIV-negative individuals with an HIV-positive partner; however, it is still being underutilized in Black communities.
‘We are at a point in the HIV epidemic where we can either reduce HIV health disparities or exacerbate them,’ says Black AIDS Institute President and CEO Phill Wilson. ‘Some communities are rapidly adapting to a new world where biomedical tools to fight HIV are used to dramatic positive effect. We’re not seeing that kind of response in Black communities. This report investigates why.’
‘The report examines where Black communities are in familiarity, understanding, knowledge, beliefs, access and utilization of PrEP. It also makes recommendations on how the community can maximize the potential benefits of PrEP and other biomedical interventions,’ Wilson adds. ‘But most importantly, this report provides resources to help educate communities about PrEP and help communities access and finance PrEP. Finally, this report makes recommendations on how Black communities can maximize the potential benefits of PrEP and other biomedical interventions.'” (blackaids.org)
To download and read the full report, click here.