Black Women with Hiv

Black Women with HIV

African American women are disproportionately affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) compared to any other ethnic groups (CDC, 2007, para. 1). Blacks in general are more affected than their white counterparts. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), "black females aged 13 years and older accounted for 66% of the HIV/AIDS diagnosis among women." (2007, para. 7). As a result of the HIV epidemic in the black communities, women are subjected to many challenges because of the social stigma associated with the disease.

Some of the difficulties that black women experience are financial hardships, lack of education, and inadequate social networking. This paper will highlight the following: demographics of African American women vulnerability to HIV/AIDS; personal familiarity of the epidemic; attitudinal change secondary to increase knowledge, and how it affects patient care; finally, a personal examination of my thoughts prior and post research of the selected population.

Despite global awareness and national symposiums on HIV/AIDS education, the black communities are inundated with this fatal disease. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) states that, "In 2006, HIV was the 3rd leading cause of death among Black women ages 25-44, compared to 5th for women overall in the U.S" (September 2009, para. 7). An individual's race or culture does not denote a risk factor for the disease; however, the social and environmental circumstances surrounding the culture increase the vulnerability to HIV (CDC, 2007, para. 5). Research shows that black women are subjected to many barriers in accessing health care because of the lack of basic resources such as lack of transportation and insurance. A nationally disturbing finding in the black communities highlights the link between poverty and HIV/AIDS. The KFF reported on an income base study that "found that women with HIV were disproportionately low-income and nearly two-thirds (64%) had annual incomes below $10,000 compared to 41% of men" (September 2009, para 5). The relationship between low income and HIV among women evokes personal awareness of the unending crisis.

As a Caribbean woman living in Jamaica, I became aware of HIV/AIDS IN 1982. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS was a worldwide awakening and instilled fear in most people. My immediate impression was tainted with stereotypes and biases toward the homosexual gay population. The general belief during that period was that the disease affected only homosexual men. In retrospect, one of my neighbors' nephews was sick for an extended period, and no one in the community would visit him because of fear of HIV/AIDS transmission. Personally, I also had my own biases because I knew he was associated with a male companion, and out of fear of the unknown, I would not be anywhere close to him. My homophobic behavior was unfounded because of inadequate information about the disease process.

Lack of knowledge about any disease condition, is a prescription of ignorance and creates unsubstantiated fear in many people. In 1986, I decided to find as much information as possible to relieve personal fears and dispel some of the social stigma associated with the disease. In my thirst for knowledge, I was pleased to learn the various modes of transmission bundled with the risk factors of the disease that immediately allays my fears. As mentioned earlier, the plight of poverty in the black communities has a direct correlation with rise of HIV/AIDS. "Less frequent health screenings among the poor increase the possibility of people unwittingly carrying and spreading the virus" (Jones-Deweever & Avis, 2005, para. 9). As a result, I have developed a different attitude toward the unemployed, and the uninsured in the black community. My ultimate goal is to facilitate the disadvantage population in effective health care delivery.

As a practicing