HEALTHIER YOU: Black Women Hit Hardest by HIV 

BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN

December is International AIDS Awareness Month. 

Las Vegas’ newest attraction, The Sphere, has had its outer skin colored into a searing, bright red in recognition of the month and those lives globally that have been saved by global HIV/AIDS programs. The international pop group U2 has spearheaded The Sphere’s recognition of World AIDS Day during its current residency in the concert venue. Lead singer Bono co-founded HIV/AIDS programs The One Campaign and Product RED Campaign to fight AIDS and extreme poverty. 

According to recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “despite recent progress that has been seen, new HIV diagnoses decrease by 21 percent from 2010 to 2016, black women still account for 6 in 10 new HIV infections among women in 2016.” 

African-American women are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic in the United States, and the interventions that have been laid out have not impacted this group in the same way it has males and non-Black women. African-American women are hit the hardest by HIV as the rate of diagnosis is 15 times as high as that of white women, and almost five times that of Latino women. In fact, reports indicate, HIV/AIDS-related illness is among the leading causes of death for Black women ages 25-34, the CDC says. 

Several challenges contribute to the epidemic among Black people, including high rates of poverty; lack of access to health care; higher rates of some sexually transmitted infections and smaller sexual networks; lack of awareness of HIV status; and stigma underscoring the need for strengthened, more focused and innovative efforts to address this disparity. 

It is important that all women have regular healthcare checkups. Make your appointment today by calling (702) 413-7740 for Innovative Women’s Care or visit us at 7650 West Sahara Ave. Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89117.