Strategies to Enhance HIV Care and Promote Racial Equity for Black Women

The UConn Health Disparities Institute emphasizes the importance of addressing racial disparities in HIV care for Black women. The Black Women First Initiative (BWF), launched in 2020, marked a historic milestone as the first program explicitly focused on improving healthcare access and treatment for Black women living with HIV since 1981. Despite comprising less than 14% of the female population in the U.S., Black women account for over 54% of new HIV diagnoses, reflecting significant structural barriers rooted in historical and systemic racism.

The BWF Initiative funded community organizations nationwide to create and implement interventions aimed at increasing access to prevention, treatment, and support services. It underscored that the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on Black women is driven by socio-economic factors, exclusion from transmission messaging, and obstacles like transportation, housing, and employment that hinder their healthcare engagement.

A recently published essay in the American Journal of Public Health, led by Linda Sprague Martinez and colleagues, highlights that the roots of this health disparity are embedded in racism rather than race itself. The initiative's efforts to center Black women's voices in program design and evaluation represent a meaningful step toward challenging systemic inequities. However, the authors stress that addressing racism requires broader, more comprehensive actions, including reforming funding priorities, organizational policies, and assessment methods.

Key recommendations for future progress include: acknowledging racism explicitly as a root cause of disparities, examining institutional practices for oppressive elements, involving Black women living with HIV in research and evaluation, and establishing community partnerships to deliver comprehensive, wrap-around services. These strategies aim to dismantle racial barriers and foster equitable healthcare experiences.

Funding agencies, organizations, and researchers are encouraged to adopt these actions to advance health equity for Black women with HIV, ensuring that efforts are sustained and systemic changes are achieved. The insights from the BWF Initiative demonstrate that meaningful progress requires ongoing commitment, resource investment, and a focus on racial justice at all levels.

Source: Medical Xpress