HIV In the BlACk South

The HIV epidemic in the United States has shifted from urban centers along the coast to the Southern states since the first AIDS cases were reported in 1981. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Southern region now experiences the highest burden of HIV infection, illness, and deaths of any region in the US. Unfortunately, the South lags far behind in providing quality HIV prevention and care to its residents, which is a cause for concern.

The disproportionate number of people living with HIV in the South highlights the need for high-quality care for HIV and related services that are geographically accessible, culturally appropriate, sustainable and include holistic services like mental health and trauma-informed care. The higher percentage of Southerners newly diagnosed with HIV also emphasizes the need for a broad network of prevention services that can reach people who are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Care providers should offer services that include components such as trauma-informed care, which promote ongoing engagement in care and address stigmas within communities.

It's important to note that Black people living in the South accounted for 19% of the U.S. South population, but they accounted for 49% of the new HIV diagnoses. According to AIDSVu, in 2021, the rate of Black males living with an HIV diagnosis is 5.4 times that of White males, and the rate of Black females living with an HIV diagnosis is 13.9 times that of White females. Additionally, in 2020, Black transgender men represented 54% of all transgender men living with HIV, and Black transgender women represented 52% of transgender women living with HIV.