By Hilarie Meyers, Development and Communications Intern
Over the past year, numerous positive advancements have been made in the realm of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, such as the development of various microbicides, the empirical success of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, and even the Pope’s recent statements regarding the role of condoms in HIV prevention efforts. Yet, there is still work to be done.
In honor of World AIDS Day, which is held annually on December 1st, consider diving into the world of AIDS activism, if you haven’t already. Click here for a list of ways to contribute to the fight against AIDS. While an annual day of activism is a great way to get people involved, it’s even better if people begin to incorporate such activism into their daily lives. My recommendation on where to get started: get tested!
The 2010 edition of the UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic estimates that there are 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 54,000 new infections in the US alone during the year 2009. Women account for one-half of all people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and more than a quarter of those in the US.
Latinas and African American women are particularly affected by HIV/AIDS. Although Latinas and African Americans make up only 25% of the US’s female population, they make up over 80% of (or 4 out of 5) females living with HIV/AIDS in the US.
According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Latinas account for 16% of new HIV infections among women in the US. Furthermore, the rate of new HIV infections for Latinas is nearly 4 times that of white women. AIDS is also the fourth-leading cause of death for Latinas between the ages of 35 and 44.
An individual’s personal reasons for getting tested may have little to do with whether or not the medical community considers him or her to be “at risk” for HIV infection. While undoubtedly such categories can be useful when designing campaigns or allocating resources, they also can be misleading and stigmatizing. In fact, labeling certain people and behaviors according to their level of “risk” can actually inhibit treatment and prevention efforts, particularly when it comes to testing. In “Women and HIV/AIDS: An Overview,” Elinor Nauen and Bonnie Goldman explain:
Women Alive [a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization created by, and for, women living with HIV/AIDS] found that the concept of “sexual risk” tripped up the very people who were supposed to improve women’s access to HIV testing. The testers refused services to many women because they didn’t fit into traditional high-risk groups…When Los Angeles County looked at the data relating to women, ‘They discovered that 40% to 60% of African-American women and Latinas testing positive did not fit in those risk groups.’
The Center for Disease Control recommends that all adults between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV “as a routine part of their medical care.”
Because early diagnosis is a crucial component in both prevention and treatment efforts, testing for HIV needs to be emphasized as a priority for everyone. The Well Project explains:
If you test positive, you can take [steps] to prevent passing the virus on to others, including during pregnancy. And while there is no cure yet, many HIV+ women are living longer and stronger lives thanks to effective care and treatment.
Once diagnosed, individuals can take the actions necessary to preserve their own health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of the people around them. Research shows that people who are diagnosed with HIV sooner rather than later have a lower risk of developing AIDS and thus typically have better health outcomes. However, approximately 27% of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their status. Women in particular tend to be “late-testers”, and are often only diagnosed after developing symptoms or during pregnancy.
Despite the overwhelming benefits of HIV testing and early diagnosis, data from the CDC shows that only about 45% of US adults reported ever being tested for HIV. A number of complex factors influence a person’s decision to get tested. However, both stigma and fear play a large role in deterring people from HIV testing. As a fact sheet from the Latino Commission on AIDS explains, “the stigma that is attached to female sexuality often prevents…women from accessing reproductive and sexual health services, screening, and information.”
As long as HIV is associated with “deviant” and “risky” behaviors, these stigmas will prevent people from getting tested, thereby limiting the effectiveness of treatment and prevention efforts.
While individuals may do their part by getting tested, institutions, such as health clinics, schools, and hospitals, must also play an important role by offering information about and access to testing. According to Naina Khanna, in her article “Women and HIV: A Nuanced Epidemic”:
Many women are never offered an HIV test. The National Women and AIDS Collective has documented numerous instances of women being discouraged from taking, or being flat-out denied, an HIV test. This is true even when HIV testing was medically indicated.
Such actions are ultimately detrimental to the health of individuals and our society as a whole.
In honor of World AIDS Day, take action to help promote HIV testing as a key component of everyone’s medical routine, rather than a reflection on one’s behavior or character. Get tested today.
To find a testing site near you, send a text message with your zip code to “KNOWIT” (566948) or click here.
By Hilarie Meyers, Development and Communications Intern