3 HIV Prevention Strategies that Benefit Priority Populations
By Khaila Thomas & Samuella Ware, PhD | November 25, 2024
For over 40 years, HIV prevention and care has been a public health issue at the forefront of implementing science-informed, and evidence-based initiatives to support the people most impacted by the epidemic. However, there is still vital work to be done in this space today.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2022 HIV Surveillance Report, found that over 38,000 people received an HIV diagnosis in 2022. Breaking that data down even further highlights the prominent disparities in HIV prevalence and incidence. Young people ages 13 to 34, men who have sexual contact with men (MSM), Black/African American people, and individuals in the South are the populations most affected by HIV in the United States.
With that knowledge in mind, it is imperative to consider what techniques can benefit communities, action-based groups, and organizations working to reduce HIV for the people most impacted. In this blog, there are three vital strategies to consider for those working to end the HIV epidemic and support people living with HIV (PLWH).
Improve Access & Quality Through Person-Centered Services
Applying a status-neutral approach to HIV services is a “whole-person” approach to HIV prevention and care, since it emphasizes high-quality care to engage and retain people for services that meet their needs. This involves addressing a person’s overall well-being and mental health, particularly for individuals from priority populations who face numerous structural barriers affecting their health.
This approach also helps to mitigate stigma and reduce health disparities among priority populations, as it delivers culturally affirming services that treat the whole person and avoids implicit biases. Adopting this holistic approach when providing HIV prevention and care services is vital, even before diagnosis, to ensure continuity of care and retention.
Social determinants of health and intersectional identities influence health outcomes, as well as access to live-saving treatment and care. This is why is why it’s paramount that healthcare providers should recognize this person-centered approach to HIV.
Learning techniques such as a warm conversational tone, active listening, and cultural awareness foster trust and improves overall health outcomes for those able to seek the healthcare they need.
Increase the Support of Local Leadership
Empowering individuals who are directly impacted by HIV to take on leadership roles ensures that programs and policies are informed by lived experiences and are more likely to meet the real needs of the community.
Local leaders are also easily able to enact a culturally competent system of care. This system acknowledges and incorporates—at all levels—the importance of culture, vigilance towards the dynamics that result from cultural differences, the expansion of cultural knowledge, and the adaptation of services to meet culturally unique needs.
Investing in the development of a diverse and representative HIV workforce is not only a matter of equity but a strategic imperative to effectively combat the epidemic. This investment also includes equipping organizations and action-based groups with the necessary funds, training, support, and organizational sustainability and growth through capacity building.
Capacity building is a process for strengthening the management and governance of an organization so that it can effectively achieve its objectives and fulfill its mission. For organizations involved in HIV work, capacity building is paramount for their sustained impact and effectiveness.
Increased capacity for local leadership can lead to opportunities for advocacy. Fostering advocacy helps amplify voices that are often marginalized, promoting greater awareness, and much-needed action toward ending HIV.
Work to Change the Public Perception of HIV/AIDS
Despite decades of scientific and medical research, evidence-based interventions, and advances in the field leading to people living long and healthy lives with HIV—stigma about HIV and discriminatory efforts to criminalize people with HIV remain entrenched.
Stigma is often fueled by deeply learned social attitudes related to religion, homophobia, and other cultural factors. This deters individuals from using preventative measures, getting tested or pursuing treatment due to fear of shame and discrimination, which exacerbates the HIV epidemic.
GLAAD’s 2023 State of HIV Stigma Study found that:
- 37% of American believe that HIV primarily impacts LGBTQ+ people even though it can be contracted regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Over the years, there has been growing discomfort in interacting with PLWH in professions like hairstyling, barbering, and teaching.
- 80% of Americans also agree with criminalizing the non-disclosure of HIV status.
This study showcased the importance of increasing accessible education on the subject and visibility of individuals living with HIV to reduce HIV stigma. Television and movies can bridge the informational gap as entertainment continues to be a widespread source of learning, understanding, and humanizing PLWH.
Amplify These Strategies for HIV Prevention Work
To drive meaningful change in the reduction of HIV prevalence and incidence, it is vital multiple initiatives and strategies are enacted to reach the populations most impacted while outwardly supporting and showcasing those living with HIV.
There are disparities in HIV prevention and care, but providing status-neutral, high-quality care with an HIV workforce that reflects communities disproportionately affected by HIV and the tools needed to combat its prevalence, further improves efforts to end the HIV epidemic.
These strategies have been informed by the Phase II Final Report of the Gilead COMPASS Initiative®, a project of ETR, which aims to reduce HIV prevalence and incidence in the South, where 52% of all new HIV diagnoses occur.
Khaila Thomas (she/her) is a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at ETR.
Samuella Ware, PhD (she/her), is a Senior Research Associate II at ETR, where she serves as principal investigator and project lead on HIV and Black health equity evaluation and training projects. With over 10 years of experience in community-based HIV prevention across academic and community settings, her work is driven by a deep commitment to advancing health equity and improving the health and well-being of Black communities.
