Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHIV in the Black CommunityExplanationsSymptomsHow to Get TestedPrevention EffortsOutreach ProgramsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
HIV in the Black Community
Explanations
Symptoms
How to Get Tested
Prevention Efforts
Outreach Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
This article is part ofHealth Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
This disease has destroyed Black communities, but recent data show some encouraging signs. This article will discuss why HIV rates are so high among Black men, prevention efforts, and ways to find care.
This racial disparity has continued for decades. Of the 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, 476,100 are Black. And despite representing only 13% of the U.S. population, as of 2019, Black Americans make up 42.1% of new HIV cases and 44% of HIV-related deaths.
This pattern has persisted due to social inequities (unfairness) in income status, education, access to medical care, and other factors—not because the virus specifically targets Black people.
The devastating impact of HIV on Black communities reflects the social inequities and disadvantages stemming from centuries of racial oppression, civil and human rights violations, and structural racism.
Same-Sex Partners
HIV rates are higher in the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and others) community compared to the heterosexual community and are highest among Black men. Black gay men have the highest risk for HIV compared with all other groups, accounting for 25% of new infections in 2021.
Black men who identify as gay, bisexual, and other men who report male-to-male sexual contact also accounted for 36% of new diagnoses among all gay and bisexual men in 2021.Many more are likely affected but unaware of it.
As in many communities of color, homophobia and discrimination are significant factors that keep LGBTQ+ Black Americans from knowing they should get tested, seeking more information on prevention and treatment options, and disclosing their HIV status.
Heterosexual Black Men
Men accounted for 81% of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2021.About 7% of all new cases were men who acquired it through heterosexual contact. A higher proportion of these heterosexual men are Black.
The disease burden (the impact of a health problem on a population, as measured in financial cost and lives lost) in heterosexual Black male communities is unacceptably high. Factors associated with HIV risk among heterosexual Black men include:
Historically, research and prevention efforts have also mostly focused on stopping the spread among men who have sex with other men. This contributed to rumors and misunderstandings that HIV is solely a disease of LGBTQ+ communities. This has created a lack of knowledge about the virus and the importance of using protection among heterosexual men.
Recap
Reasons That Explain HIV Rates in Black Men
A number of challenges contribute to this observed disparity, including poverty, lack of access to healthcare, higher rates of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), smaller sexual networks, lack of awareness of HIV status, and stigma.
Despite the public health community’s best efforts to counter the notion that HIV infection is the result of personal irresponsibility or being immoral, these beliefs are pervasive in some communities, causing shame and a reluctance to access healthcare services.
The medical community is not left without blame, as the focus of outreach has long been centered around mitigating high-risk sexual practices, and not the many social determinants of health that contribute to the transmission of this deadly disease.
Due to these factors, myths and misinformation have increased the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS. Therefore, increasing access to care while removing the stigma of HIV may be the best way to connect Black men to the care they need.
RecapBlack men are at a higher risk of contracting HIV than other groups, due to systematic inequalities, low-income status, lack of access to medical care, misinformation, and homophobia. Increasing access to care while also dispelling discrimination is critical to encouraging Black men to seek testing, prevention measures, and treatment.
Black men are at a higher risk of contracting HIV than other groups, due to systematic inequalities, low-income status, lack of access to medical care, misinformation, and homophobia. Increasing access to care while also dispelling discrimination is critical to encouraging Black men to seek testing, prevention measures, and treatment.
HIV Symptoms in Black Males
While some people living with HIV may detect symptoms of their infection early on, many are unaware of their status for many months. In the first few weeks after initial infection you may experience no symptoms or mistake your symptoms for another illness, like the flu or the common cold.
Symptoms of acute HIV infection (also known as acute retroviral syndrome) are often flu-like and include:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, with those considered at high risk getting tested annually or more often.
If you fall into one of these categories or engage in one or more of the following activities you may benefit from more frequent testing:
Before having sex for the first time with a new partner, you and your partner should talk about your sexual and drug-use history, disclose your HIV status, and consider getting tested for HIV and learning the results.
Use these HIV.gov resources to connect to testing sites and other services:
Early diagnosis gives you the opportunity to initiate treatment as soon as possible, decreasing your risk of developing AIDS and passing the virus along to others.
What Tests Can Diagnose HIV?
Prevention challenges loom in the fight against HIV infection. Some of these challenges, particularly in Black communities, include:
PreP and Black Men
What Is HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)?
Prevention efforts are aimed at tackling these many challenges. Addressing systemic issues, while also promoting healthy sexual behaviors is key to decreasing HIV transmission.
The best way to prevent HIV is to use protection when you are having sex of any type (vaginal, oral, or anal sex), and if doing drugs, do not share needles at any time. The following tips may lower your risk of getting an STI:
Community and Government Outreach Programs
While feasible, these efforts have failed to address the systemic issues that have allowed the virus to persist in Black communities.
On the plus side, various groups, including federal, state, and local organizations, have launched vigorous outreach programs in Black communities to inform and treat hard-to-reach people at risk of contracting the virus.
Resources With More Information
A number of organizations on the local, state, and federal levels are addressing HIV in Black communities. Many more privately owned grassroots organizations are addressing concerns every day.
On the federal level, hundreds of millions of dollars have been committed to bolstering HIV data collection and prevention efforts, and strengthening the capacity and improving the performance of the nation’s HIV prevention workforce.
Summary
Black men are at higher risk of contracting and dying from HIV than any other group in the United States. This disparity is due to a number of factors stemming from systematic racism, including low-income status and lack of access to medical care and information. Public health efforts to address HIV in Black communities are ongoing but need to continue to improve in order to put an end to HIV.
It’s important to remember that HIV is a disease that can be managed and treated, and should not be viewed as a source of moral failing or shame. If you or a loved one have any concern about HIV, seek out a testing center and learn your status. Getting diagnosed and finding a healthcare provider that you trust is the first step toward finding the tools to live a long, fulfilling life with HIV.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople with HIV live substantially fewer healthy years than people without HIV. Black and Brown men have lower life expectancy among those with HIV, in part due to the combined effects of starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) late and ending it too soon. On average, they die 3.3 years earlier than Whites living with HIV.HIV-positive Black men who start antiretroviral therapy (ART) promptly and have good access to medical care live as long as their HIV-negative peers.Telling a current, new, or potential sexual partner that you are HIV positive can be intimidating, but a straightforward and specific approach is best when addressing this topic. Finding a quiet, private place to talk and allowing your partner to express themselves is key.Prior to the conversation, you may want to choose a time when you expect that you will both be comfortable and as relaxed as possible. Imagine how your partner may react and consider making a safety plan just in case. Write down what they might say, and then think about what you might say in response.Wearing condoms properly and every time you have sex is a highly effective method to protect you against HIV. Combining condom use and PreP is 99% effective against HIV.Early diagnosis and treatment are key to restoring your health and limiting the spread of the virus. Planned Parenthood, local community clinics, and many hospitals are good starting points to start testing and treatment. You may want to go with a friend for support, as a possible diagnosis of HIV is understandably stressful.
People with HIV live substantially fewer healthy years than people without HIV. Black and Brown men have lower life expectancy among those with HIV, in part due to the combined effects of starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) late and ending it too soon. On average, they die 3.3 years earlier than Whites living with HIV.HIV-positive Black men who start antiretroviral therapy (ART) promptly and have good access to medical care live as long as their HIV-negative peers.
People with HIV live substantially fewer healthy years than people without HIV. Black and Brown men have lower life expectancy among those with HIV, in part due to the combined effects of starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) late and ending it too soon. On average, they die 3.3 years earlier than Whites living with HIV.
HIV-positive Black men who start antiretroviral therapy (ART) promptly and have good access to medical care live as long as their HIV-negative peers.
Telling a current, new, or potential sexual partner that you are HIV positive can be intimidating, but a straightforward and specific approach is best when addressing this topic. Finding a quiet, private place to talk and allowing your partner to express themselves is key.Prior to the conversation, you may want to choose a time when you expect that you will both be comfortable and as relaxed as possible. Imagine how your partner may react and consider making a safety plan just in case. Write down what they might say, and then think about what you might say in response.
Telling a current, new, or potential sexual partner that you are HIV positive can be intimidating, but a straightforward and specific approach is best when addressing this topic. Finding a quiet, private place to talk and allowing your partner to express themselves is key.
Prior to the conversation, you may want to choose a time when you expect that you will both be comfortable and as relaxed as possible. Imagine how your partner may react and consider making a safety plan just in case. Write down what they might say, and then think about what you might say in response.
Wearing condoms properly and every time you have sex is a highly effective method to protect you against HIV. Combining condom use and PreP is 99% effective against HIV.
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to restoring your health and limiting the spread of the virus. Planned Parenthood, local community clinics, and many hospitals are good starting points to start testing and treatment. You may want to go with a friend for support, as a possible diagnosis of HIV is understandably stressful.
HIV-Positive and Dating
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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HIV.gov.Fast facts.
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