Why National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Matters

On February 7th, as we observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), we find ourselves at a critical juncture in the fight for health equity. NBHAAD is an annual reminder of the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on Black communities and the need for targeted interventions that address disparities in prevention, treatment, and care. While lack of access to care has long been considered the main barrier to HIV prevention, recent studies reveal another pressing issue: implicit biases affecting PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) adherence and access. However, these biases do not exist in isolation—they are deeply entrenched in political and social determinants of health, exacerbating disparities and limiting progress toward equitable outcomes.

A recent large-scale study of Northern California Kaiser Permanente members on PrEP usage showed that while PrEP is highly effective in preventing HIV, its distribution is skewed in favor of White populations, even in settings where Black individuals face higher risks. Of the 972 individuals initiating PrEP in the study, nearly 70% were White, while only 4.3% were Black. The study found that Black race/ethnicity was independently associated with lower adherence to PrEP, suggesting that structural and implicit biases are at play—biases that cannot be attributed solely to socioeconomic factors or lack of access.

This huge difference exists even in areas where Black people are at higher risk of HIV. Why is this happening?

The answer isn't simple. It involves two main categories of problems:

First, there are system-level barriers. These include:

• Insurance problems (like when insurance doesn't cover the medicine or suddenly stops)
• Healthcare policies (rules about who can get certain treatments and how much they cost)
• Access to doctors and clinics

Here's a real example: A young Black man was taking PrEP to prevent HIV, but he had to stop because his insurance coverage ended. Later, he was diagnosed with HIV. This shows how problems with healthcare coverage can have serious consequences.

Second, healthcare providers and their implicit biases can cause grave implications to the communities they provide care for. This means that sometimes, without meaning to, healthcare providers might:

• Make assumptions about who will take their medicine regularly
• Not offer certain treatments to everyone equally
• Miss opportunities to provide support that fits different cultural needs

Recent changes in our country have made things even harder. Important health information about HIV prevention has been removed from government websites. This makes it harder for people to learn about their options and get the help they need.

The recent trend of rolling back LGBTQ+ and gender-related resources is a stark reminder of how political shifts can undermine health equity. Under the Trump administration, key pages from the CDC’s website addressing HIV in LGBTQ populations were taken offline, removing critical scientific information from public access. This move, part of a broader effort to strip federal communications of language related to gender identity, directly harmed efforts to address disparities in HIV prevention.

According to a joint statement by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association, the removal of these resources created “a dangerous gap in scientific information and data to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks,” hindering efforts to monitor and respond to the HIV epidemic. These actions demonstrate how political determinants can act as obstacles to the dissemination of life-saving information, disproportionately affecting Black and LGBTQ communities.
Mass retractions of research manuscripts, the removal of health equity-related CDC pages, and restrictions on gender-inclusive language are more than symbolic—they are tangible barriers that hinder progress.

When scientific data on HIV, LGBTQ health, and gender identity is suppressed, policymakers, researchers, and healthcare providers lose access to the information needed to develop effective interventions. As the CDC faces political interference, marginalized populations suffer from the resulting gaps in care. The suppression of this information perpetuates health disparities by erasing the specific needs of the most vulnerable communities.

But there's hope. Here's what we can do to make things better:

• Push for laws that make HIV prevention medicine affordable for everyone
• Help doctors and nurses learn to treat all patients fairly
• Make sure accurate health information is available to everyone who needs it

This NBHAAD, remember that everyone deserves an equal chance to stay healthy. When we see unfair differences in healthcare, we need to speak up and take action to fix them.

As we reflect on the progress made and the work still ahead, let us remember: Data is power, but only when we use it to hold systems accountable.

Want to help? Start by sharing what you've learned with others. Share your experiences. Knowledge is powerful, especially when we use it to make positive changes in our community.

References

Dall, C. (2025, February 3). Removal of pages from CDC website brings confusion, dismay. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/removal-pages-cdc-website-brings-confusion-dismay

Kelley, C., Tan, T. (2025, January 31). Removal of HIV- and LGBTQ-Related CDC Webpages Creates Dangerous Gaps in Scientific Information. Infectious Disease Society of America. https://www.idsociety.org/news--publications-new/articles/2025/removal-of-hiv--and-lgbtq-related-cdc-webpages-creates-dangerous-gaps-in-scientific-information/

Marcus, J. L., Hurley, L. B., Hare, C. B., Nguyen, D. P., Phengrasamy, T., Silverberg, M. J., Stoltey, J. E., & Volk, J. E. (2016). Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in a Large Integrated Health Care System: Adherence, Renal Safety, and Discontinuation. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 73(5), 540–546. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000001129