Understanding the Impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black and African American Community

HIV/AIDS affects Black and African Americans in higher numbers, resulting in more infections and worse outcomes. Learn the facts and discover how, as a nurse, you can address this issue.
The Black and African American community experiences a disproportionate impact from HIV/AIDS. Although they make up 13% of the U.S. population, Black and African American individuals accounted for 42% (16,002) of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2018, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Systemic barriers to prevention and care, combined with the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS within this community, contribute to the rising number of cases. Thankfully, diversity in nursing and culturally competent care can help alleviate health disparities, not only among Black and African Americans but also other groups like Native Americans and Indigenous people. This guide delves into the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Black and African American population and equips you, as a nurse, with the knowledge needed to provide appropriate care.

The History and Stigma of HIV/AIDS in the Black and African American Community

Dr. Alicia Morehead-Gee, medical director of HIV prevention at AltaMed Health Services, emphasizes the role of stigma.

“HIV-related stigma includes seeing the condition as a ‘shameful’ disease, a ‘gay’ disease, and/or a ‘death sentence,'” she states. “These misconceptions persist and contribute to HIV-related stigma in our nation.”

When a health condition is stigmatized, people often avoid getting tested or seeking care. They may skip testing and disregard symptoms.

Even after diagnosis, they might refuse HIV medications out of fear that their status will be revealed.

“Due to [the stigma], individuals may avoid getting tested for HIV or taking HIV prevention and treatment medications,” Morehead-Gee explains. “They may fear being stigmatized due to their sexual orientation or HIV status.”

“Addressing the issues around stigma is crucial for effective HIV prevention and treatment.”
Discrimination and Barriers to Proper Care and Prevention

Stigma isn’t the sole obstacle faced by Black and African Americans in preventing, diagnosing, or treating HIV/AIDS. Persistent health inequities, disparities, and discrimination influence attitudes and beliefs about HIV/AIDS within this community.

A 2016 survey of Black American adults found that nearly a third (31%) believe that HIV/AIDS was deliberately created, 40% think that a cure is withheld, and one in three (33%) consider antiretroviral treatment as harmful.

Morehead-Gee highlights, “Lack of healthcare access translates to fewer opportunities for HIV testing, along with limited awareness and access to HIV prevention and treatment medications. This greatly contributes to the HIV disparities affecting African Americans.”

Black and African American patients achieve better outcomes when treated by healthcare providers of the same background. However, only 5.4% of doctors are Black. Cultural competence and increased representation in healthcare can positively impact patient care.

Addressing Challenges Stemming from HIV/AIDS in the Black and African American Community

Healthcare professionals can tackle stigmas, discrimination, and limited access to care through various means. Collaborating with community organizations, engaging in volunteer work, fundraising efforts, and understanding discrimination and how to counteract it can all contribute.

Dealing with these challenges also involves personal efforts, such as:

• Developing cultural competence in nursing through formal education and informal mentorship
• Recognizing the influence of unconscious bias and taking steps to mitigate its effects
• Advocating for the needs of Black and African American patients and communities
• Promoting inclusivity
• Establishing respectful and open communication with patients to establish trust
• Addressing the roots of stigma with sensitivity (This may entail understanding how trauma can impact interactions and encouraging patients to share their experiences, needs, and histories. Avoid presenting information in a way that might come across as lecturing or judgmental, which can reinforce stigma and erode trust.)

Efforts to Combat Stigma

Healthcare and public health systems have launched campaigns to educate Black and African American communities about HIV and its prevention and treatment. These campaigns encompass billboards, printed public service announcements, and social media outreach.

Community engagement in places like churches, barbershops, beauty salons, or other safe spaces for Black and African Americans can help reduce stigma. These community locations, which are trusted by Black and African Americans, can provide reliable education on HIV, blood pressure, and other health topics.

“Expanding outreach in these settings, as well as schools and other community events, can reduce HIV stigma and enhance awareness of HIV prevention and treatment,” Morehead-Gee emphasizes.

As trusted professionals, nurses can offer both formal and informal education on HIV/AIDS, as well as advocate for LGBTQ+ equality to counteract stigma. Nurses can also model respect for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ or those living with HIV/AIDS.

Removing Healthcare and Prevention Barriers

Educational efforts alone are insufficient to address HIV/AIDS disparities among Black and African Americans. Morehead-Gee highlights, “More can be done to increase healthcare access in African American communities by opening more primary care and specialty care clinics to provide these services.”

Alongside improved healthcare accessibility, providers can promote regular health examinations that include routine HIV/AIDS testing. They can also simplify the scheduling and availability of these examinations.

Hospital-At-Home: What Nurses and Nursing Students Should Know

Nurses can advocate for public policy changes to enhance healthcare access and reduce patient out-of-pocket expenses.

Providers can build trust in healthcare by demonstrating respect and commitment to reducing healthcare disparities. This can involve increasing staff and volunteer diversity, forming partnerships with trusted organizations, and educating legislators, funders, and the public about access issues within their communities and potential solutions.

Nursing Strategies to Address Healthcare, Education, and Prevention Challenges

Nurses can motivate patients to undergo annual examinations and identify barriers like transportation issues or the necessity for care outside typical working hours. They can prompt their organizations to address these obstacles.

Additionally, nurses can mentor Black and African American nurses and encourage individuals from these communities to pursue nursing.

Morehead-Gee’s advice to nurses:

[We must] acknowledge the historical oppression and inequity’s impact on the current HIV landscape. The existing HIV disparities are not due to differing behaviors or practices among African Americans; they result from longstanding discriminatory practices against African Americans in education, employment, housing, and healthcare access. Consequently, significant efforts are required to combat these inequities, alongside the stigma affecting individuals’ perceptions of HIV.

We must establish a welcoming, inclusive environment for people to learn about HIV, get tested, and receive appropriate prevention or treatment medications. Through these endeavors, we can address disparities and put an end to the HIV epidemic.

FAQ regarding Caring for Patients Impacted by HIV/AIDS

How does HIV impact patient care?

If HIV progresses to AIDS, it heightens a patient’s susceptibility to other infections. Nurses should treat these patients with the same precautions taken for other immuno-compromised individuals. They should uphold hygiene practices and maintain up-to-date vaccinations and boosters.

HIV patients, similar to those with significant chronic conditions, may require extra support for their mental and emotional well-being.

What kind of medical care is necessary for HIV?

HIV patients receive antiretroviral treatments that reduce the virus count in their blood.

Especially when treated early, HIV-positive patients can lead lives similar to their expectations prior to diagnosis. This underscores the critical importance of early diagnosis and treatment, which can also decrease the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

What are HIV patients at risk of?

HIV patients are vulnerable to developing AIDS, which weakens their immune systems and heightens susceptibility to illnesses. Common infections among those with HIV encompass pneumonia, certain types of cancers, hepatitis, shingles, and fungal infections like thrush.

What precautions should nursing assistants take when caring for residents with HIV/AIDS?

Nursing assistants caring for residents with HIV/AIDS should adopt the same precautions applied to any other blood-borne pathogens. They should wear gloves when encountering blood, whether directly or in feces or vomit.

Nurses should also take all feasible precautions to prevent exposing residents to other infections by practicing regular and thorough handwashing, maintaining up-to-date vaccinations and boosters, and using masks when appropriate.

Resources for Nurses and Healthcare Providers

Numerous resources are available for nurses aiming to address HIV/AIDS stigma within the Black and African American community and reduce barriers to prevention and treatment.

HIV.gov
HIV.gov serves as the nation’s hub for HIV and AIDS information. Resources for nurses include news updates, educational programs, data, and details about awareness days like National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association’s position statement on HIV and related conditions offers insights into treatment and prevention. It also issues calls to action directed at governments and other organizations.

Kaiser Family Foundation
The foundation provides an extensive fact sheet on HIV/AIDS among Black Americans.

AIDS Education and Training Center
Part of the Rutgers School of Nursing, AETC offers a compilation of HIV/AIDS and African American-focused training.

Resources for African Americans Impacted by HIV/AIDS

If you or someone you care for is affected by HIV/AIDS, or if you’re seeking to enhance your knowledge, these resources are invaluable.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
This annual event occurs on February 7. The website features an event planning guide, a social media toolkit, and information about HIV/AIDS and the African American community.

HIV.gov
This website supplies information for both community members and healthcare professionals about HIV/AIDS and its impact on African Americans.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This CDC webpage provides resources for accessing and financing care, finding housing, legal assistance, and more.

The Black AIDS Institute
The Black AIDS Institute offers resources and listings of organizations dedicated to combating stigma and preventing HIV/AIDS in Black and African American communities.

National Alliance on Mental Illness
HIV/AIDS affects mental as well as physical health. NAMI offers resources for Black and African Americans to find culturally sensitive care.