Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a pressing health issue in the United States, disproportionately impacting Black Americans. Despite medical advancements over the decades, which have transformed HIV from a death sentence to a manageable condition, significant disparities continue to affect minority communities. Black Americans accounted for 37% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022, underscoring the challenges they face in accessing healthcare and preventive measures.
Young Black Americans, particularly those aged 13 to 24, bear the brunt of this crisis, comprising half of all new HIV diagnoses among youth nationwide. This rate is nearly double the rates seen in Hispanic and Latino youth and more than three times that of white youth, signaling a troubling inequity in prevention outreach efforts. Similarly, Black women are underrepresented in prevention initiatives and often fail to perceive themselves at risk. Yet, they accounted for 50% of new HIV diagnoses among women in 2022, far surpassing rates among white and Hispanic women.
Socioeconomic factors compound these issues for minority communities. Stigma, misinformation, and unstable housing are prevalent challenges, especially among those living in the South, which sees nearly half of new diagnoses. Alarmingly, while the South represents a major hotspot for infections, it accounts for only 22% of the nation’s PrEP users, leaving substantial gaps in preventive medication access. Addressing these inequities is crucial to alleviating the HIV burden on Black Americans.
See: “The Truth About Black America’s HIV Crisis” (April 10, 2025)