The Stigma Behind HIV Among Black/African Americans 

 

“Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system causing it to weaken and lose the ability to fight off infections. The virus destroys a specific type of white blood cell called CD4-T cells which indicates how well the immune system is functioning. People living with HIV who have a CD4-T cell count below 200 also have autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and can develop many serious illnesses like tuberculosis and pneumonia. AIDS is the last stage of HIV and if left untreated, death is susceptible.” (Islam,1) 

HIV was first identified in the 1980s and through extensive research, it was discovered that it could be transmitted through sexual contact, contaminated needles, breastfeeding, birth, and blood transfusions. (De Cock, 2017)  Pre-Exposure Prophylactic or (PrEp) can be taken as a preventative measure for people who are at high risk of HIV contraction. 

Although anyone is susceptible to contracting HIV if they do not take precautions, “Blacks/African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races/ethnicities.”  (CDC) This is an important topic at hand because there is not much research that explores this issue.  A possible explanation for this could be that there is an internalized stigma regarding HIV/AIDS. Due to this stigma, it then builds a wall of coming terms to with the reality of their health, being misinformed, and seeking help before it’s too late.  Having honest conservation about HIV can be uncomfortable for some people and they assume because they’re healthy, there is no need to learn about HIV. This can be frustrating because “1 in 7 African Americans living with HIV are unaware of their diagnosis.” (HIV.gov) Due to “fear of discriminatory treatment if discovered to have tested or received positive results.”  (Kerr et al., 2015)  “they cannot take advantage of the treatments that can lead to viral suppression and prevent them from unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.” (HIV.gov)  It is important to address this stigma because “Data also show that African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV. Although they represent only 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 43% of all new HIV diagnoses” (HIV.gov) If more Black/African Americans are willing to educate themselves, and not feel embarrassed for seeking help, it can bring more attention to how important this issue is. 

Through the genre of a scientific article, “Internalized stigma and HIV status disclosure among HIV-positive black men who have sex with men” with the medium being a website and audience being Black/African American and Black men who have sex with men (BMSM). It should be known that African American gay and bisexual men represent 37% of all new HIV cases. Being both gay and HIV positive allows them to be an open target for discrimination. As mentioned in the American Journal of Public Health, “Stigmatizing messages stem from family, churches, and the gay community and from negative, internalized, beliefs HIV-positive Black MSM held about infected individuals before their own infection. HIV stigma influences sexual silence around HIV disclosure, especially to sexual partners.” (Bird, 1) This kind of discrimination is very discouraging and adds on to the issues gay men already encounter with homophobia. Not seeking a doctor’s help not only negatively affects one’s  physical and mental health but it is also a disservice to a population who are not aware of the symptoms and are sexaully active because they are afraid of what other people think. The language of the article is formal and sophisticated and maintains a serious tone. The authors, Nicole M. Overstreet, Valarie A. Earnshaw, Seth C. Kalichman, and Diane M. Quinn wrote the article with the purpose of informing the audience why Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are severely affected by the HIV epidemic and how being open and honest with their partners can minimize the psychological distress associated with HIV.  The article discloses that “…people living with HIV/AIDS endorse the negative beliefs associated with HIV as true of themselves.” (Overstreet et al., 1) In summary, they do not want to be known for having this disease and don’t want judgment from others.  The authors being psychologists don’t believe that BMSM should feel this fear and take the stance that, “internalized negative beliefs about one’s HIV status are linked to adverse interpersonal consequences.” These consequences include depression and anxiety. “ Moreover, HIV-positive BMSM are less likely to be engaged in care, access or adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART), or be virally suppressed compared with other HIV-positive MSM. …those with a history of depression were less likely to report missed doctor visits” ( Weidman et al., 1) 

It is very clear to see that there is a link between societal stigma and HIV disparities among Black/African people. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health which serves as a medium, the authors state “Societal stigma is social devaluation and discrediting associated with a personal attribute, mark, or characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or sexual minority orientation (Goffman, 1963).”  Ultimately, societal stigma can devalue someone who has HIV and totally disregard their character and personality.  This scientific article (genre) also  supports the stance “That is, structural and individual-level stigma manifestations reinforce differences in status, resources, and social and political influence in ways that reinforce and justify societal stigma.” (Earnshaw,1)  Furthermore, “At the structural level, stigma manifestations include residential segregation, historical traumatic assaults, and medical mistrust.” (Earnshaw, 1) “…medical mistrust increases the risk for HIV. Among Black men, research has linked HIV conspiracy beliefs with negative attitudes towards condoms, which in turn are associated with a lower likelihood of using condoms consistently.” (Earnshaw, 1) This can also cause people to be reluctant to listen to physician recommendations. Moreover,  Black/African American people living with HIV perceive explicit stigma based on their race and socioeconomic status (Bird, Bogart, & Delahanty, 2004) as well as their HIV status (Schuster et al., 2005) In fact, Black patients report receiving poorer care from and having less confidence in providers who are higher in implicit prejudice (Cooper et al., 2012 Throughout the article, authors maintain a serious and dignified tone to inform minorities (audience) and inform them of the detrimental effects of societal stigma among Black/African American people who have HIV (purpose). The language of the article is very sophisticated and detailed as well. 

In conclusion, HIV is still an ongoing issue that needs ongoing attention and spread for awareness and prevention.  It is a problem that not only affects Black/African American people but communities as a whole. It is something that needs to be discussed and seeking medical help to be normalized. “It is integral to help people who live in socially economically disadvantaged communities who do not have access to resources or knowledge on how to protect themselves. Everyone’s needs must be met and the fight will continue.” (Islam, 4) 

 

Work Cited

 

(Overstreet et al.,) “ “Internalized stigma and HIV status disclosure among HIV-positive black men who have sex with men”  AIDS CARE, Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV 25 Sep 2012

 

De Cock, M.K., (2017). HIV/AIDS- A History Thirty-six years ago, a new plague took the world unaware. Natural History 

 

Earnshaw, et al., (2013) Stigma and Racial/Ethnic HIV Disparities: Moving Toward Resilience

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740715/