HIV in the Black Community: Shifting from Stigma and Health Inequalities to Communication and Care Initiatives

Black Americans are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than the general US population, and black women in particular, carry a large HIV disease burden. In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its surveillance report that showed that despite Black women in the United States making up just 13% of the overall female population, they accounted for 50% of HIV diagnoses among women.¹

As this community continues to see stigma and health inequalities there are specific efforts to reduce these issues and bring about HIV awareness and education. For example, every February 7 marks the annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is an effort to improve access to prevention and care. This awareness day emphasizes the importance of education, early detection, and community-based care as tools for improving health outcomes.¹

“We want to make sure that we are amplifying this message, and raising awareness. We know that there is still work to do in the fight and get folks linked to care, [and] to be able to receive prevention services,” said Alftan Dyson, PharmD, AAHIVP, FNPhA, head, US Strategic Medical Partnerships at ViiV Healthcare.

Industry’s Role in Building Awareness

ViiV Healthcare has been involved in initiatives to bring the conversation to the Black community, and this is being done by both face-to-face dialogue and through technology. “We have to have conversation where people are comfortable, and they want to talk about some of the issues that are faced in those communities,” said Dyson. “But it needs to be in a way that is culturally sensitive.”

One specific initiative involved in the face-to face approach is the Risk to Reasons program, which was developed by ViiV, and aims to increase awareness and access to HIV prevention and care for Black women by changing the conversation and being out in the community having these discussions in settings where they might be more open to discuss HIV prevention and sexual health. For example, Dyson was a featured panelist at a session titled, “State of Beauty: Real Talk on the Intersection of Beauty, Self-Care and Sexual Health,” at a past Beautycon conference.³

Another initiative is ViiV’s Mother to Son digital campaign, which is inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem of the same name. The Mother to Son campaign seeks to support Black and Latinx gay, bisexual, trans and queer men, and working through the bonds that women have with their sons and being able to have those necessary conversations around HIV prevention and sexual health. ViiV’s website has personal stories of mothers and sons, online tools, and resources people can use to help with these conversations.⁴

Another group they have tried to foster awareness and conversation is with college students. ViiV visits historically black colleges and universities, and finds unique ways to have conversations with young people.

ViiV’s approach to driving awareness and education is multifaceted and looks at vulnerable populations and trying to bridge the communication gaps because of historical issues such and stigma and health inequalities.

“We make sure that we partner with the community to be able to have those conversations,” Dyson said.

References
1. HIV Surveillance Report: Diagnoses, Deaths, and Prevalence of HIV in the United States and 6 Territories and Freely Associated States, 2022. May 21, 2024. Accessed February 7, 2026.
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/156509

2.National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. February 7, 2026. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.nbhaad.org/

3. Parkinson J. Black Women and HIV: Breaking Down Barriers, Having Conversations in the Communities. Contagion. January 15, 2025. Accessed February 7, 2026.
https://www.contagionlive.com/view/black-women-and-hiv-breaking-down-barriers-having-conversations-in-the-communities

4. The Mother to Son Initiative. ViiV. Accessed February 7, 2026.
https://viivhealthcare.com/en-us/supporting-the-hiv-community/positive-action/mother-to-son/