National HIV Testing Day, June 27, 2024

For this year's National HIV Testing Day, think about your exposure to HIV. Although the rate of HIV has been going down for many groups of people, it is still impacting people of color at much too high rate. Getting tested can open up a conversation to help prevent getting infected or getting connected to care if the test is reactive. According to the Office of Minority Health:

Although Black/African Americans represent almost 13 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 42.1 percent of HIV infection cases in 2019.

In 2020, African Americans were 7.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection, as compared to the white population.

African American males have 8.1 times the AIDS rate as compared to white males.

African American females have 15 times the AIDS rate as compared to white females.

African American men are 6.0 times as likely to die from HIV infection as non-Hispanic white men.

African American women are 15.3 times as likely to die from HIV infection as white women.

Many black women in particular who are at risk, don't seek out preventive medications (Called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis-or PrEP for short). These medications are easy to take once a day, covered by insurance and can virtually eliminate the chance of getting infected with HIV. There is also an injectable version that you only need to get every 2 months. They are also available to men who have sex with men (MSM) or anyone else who wants to be safe. Getting tested at a place like Western Wayne Family Health Centers (WWFHC) opens the door to getting a prescription if it is right for you. People may have a higher exposure to HIV if they are dating or having more than one relationship, even if they are monogamous for the time they are together, but break up and meet someone new. It's a hard conversation to have with a sex partner or someone who you are going to start to have sex with, but asking about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is a great place to start a good encounter or relationship.

For black women, studies have shown that they just don't know about PrEP, don't think they are at risk of getting HIV, are concerned about side effects or cost if they know about, and just may not trust the health care system to be on their side. Most health care professionals don't bring it up, and many women just don't seek it out. However, adding this layer of protection can make the difference. More MSM use PrEP, but there needs to be a lot more people taking it to take care of their health, so we need to get the word out.

You may be at risk of HIV if:

You are single and date

Are in an open relationship or are "ethically non-monogamous"

Are the receiving partner for vaginal or oral sex

Share needles when using drugs or steroids, piercings or tattoos

Are unsure about your sex partner(s) HIV status

Have had a STI in the past year or had a partner who does

WWFHC recently got a new grant from the federal government to test more people and talk to them about PrEP. "Rates of HIV in Inkster, Westland, Garden City and other areas around our centers are still higher than in the rest of the county, and we know that some of the people with HIV may not even know it yet" says Lisa Rutledge who is leading this work at the centers. "We have a team of Certified HIV Prevention Professionals who are ready to talk to anyone about what their risk level might be, offer rapid testing and help them get started on PrEP if that is the right thing for them-all right at our centers". The locations are in Inkster, Taylor, Lincoln Park and Dearborn. Call 313-561-5100 and ask to talk to Jarita, Robert, Trevaughn, Crystal or Darnell for more info. Or make an appointment to see any provider at WWFHC who can connect you with one of them.