Top 7 HIV/AIDS myths we need to stop believing

“HIV/AIDS was cured. Ain’t no one even getting that sh*t anymore,” stated Arqueece Martin, a buyer at an area barbershop whose proprietor didn’t need his store title talked about for worry the “AIDS police” would come and do it hurt.

“AIDS is actual, man, but it surely’s for them folks up north, New York and all that,” responded Trevion “Smoove.” “It’s simply them northern LGBQXYZs that also be getting AIDS. Nevertheless it’s rattling close to on the best way out.”

“Naw playa, the federal government has been placing that HIV virus in stuff our ladies, Black ladies be utilizing—hair stuff, female merchandise, and many others.—in order that they get AIDS after which give it to us brothers,” shared Johnny “G-Plus,” explaining how his cousin “received” AIDS.

As you may see from these phrases, there are every kind of myths about HIV/AIDS nonetheless floating round and doubtlessly harming people who want healthcare system interventions. However in keeping with well being officers, the silence on the topic is lethal, too.

“There’s a critical HIV disaster in Houston, particularly amongst Black and Hispanic communities, even throughout the south as we all know it. In response to the Houston Well being Division, African Individuals make up over 50% of all HIV and AIDS instances in Harris County and Latinos comprise 29% of HIV instances,” stated Southern AIDS Coalition’s Neighborhood Outreach Affiliate, Marnina Miller, a Black, queer, Houston-based lady and HIV activist who has been dwelling with HIV for the previous 10 years.

Miller believes the general public doesn’t hear a lot about this subject as a result of Houston resides within the “Bible Belt.” Nevertheless it’s within the Bible Belt the place HIV/AIDS is off the chain.

“The South has the burden of the HIV epidemic as a result of over 50% of individuals dwelling with HIV and AIDS in the USA are presently dwelling within the southern area. The south is the wholeness of the Bible Belt. Additionally, there’s a number of homophobia and transphobia. After which, 80% of these in Houston dwelling with HIV are both Black and Brown. And we all know that racism performs an enormous half within the HIV epidemic as effectively,” Miller added.

BlackHealthMatters.com offered an inventory of seven HIV/AIDS myths that we have to throw out and change with information.

Fantasy 1: The “Down-Low” Is Why So Many Black Girls Have HIV.

We will thank the trifling media, Terry McMillan, Tyler Perry and our personal homophobia for why this lie continues to thrive. However be clear: The down-low is just not fueling HIV amongst Black ladies—it solely accounts for a small variety of infections. Nobody is denying that there are Black males dwelling double lives, but when we actually need to perceive what’s behind our disproportionate HIV charges, look to the next: Having unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse with a number of companions and even one associate; excessive charges of incarceration that take males out of the mating pool and create a system of girls sharing the identical man; intravenous drug use; untreated sexually transmitted infections, which make individuals extra susceptible to contracting HIV as soon as uncovered to the virus; and other people having unprotected intercourse, being unaware that they’re optimistic and who’re going untreated whereas extremely infectious. To not point out, gender inequality in relationships (i.e., who controls condom use in relationships) and lack of entry to testing and high quality well being care.

Fantasy 2: Straight Males Don’t Have HIV.

If 87% of Black ladies contract HIV by way of heterosexual intercourse and it’s not the down-low fueling HIV, this should imply straight dudes have HIV, too. And the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention confirms this: They estimated that in 2014, greater than 2,108 Black heterosexual males obtained HIV diagnoses (in contrast with 4,654 Black ladies). Throughout unprotected intercourse, the virus can enter by way of the tip of the penis or by way of a lower or abrasion. This danger turns into much more heightened if that man has an untreated STI.

Fantasy 3: I Can Inform If Somebody Has HIV by Them.

You may’t inform if folks have diabetes or coronary heart illness simply by taking a look at them, so why would you suppose HIV could be completely different?

Fantasy 4: Magic Johnson Both By no means Had HIV Or He Is Cured.

Actually? Why would Magic disrupt his NBA profession by mendacity about having HIV, particularly when the stigma was loopy in 1991? Furthermore, Magic has confused always that he has HIV. And I lately wrote, nobody is hiding a remedy for HIV as a result of sadly one doesn’t exist. Due to this fact, Magic is just not cured. The rationale he’s lived this lengthy is as a result of he’s on a remedy routine that works for him and retains the virus in verify.

Fantasy 5: Solely Promiscuous Individuals Contract HIV.

I’ve spent over 10 years writing about HIV, and doing that work has proven me anybody in our group can contract HIV—grandmothers, church girls, wives, husbands, you title it. Sure, the extra sexual companions you’ve got unprotected intercourse with raises your danger for contracting the virus, however you’d be stunned what number of ladies check optimistic whereas in monogamous relationships (or ones they consider are monogamous) as a result of these are the kind of relationships the place of us change into lax about utilizing condoms.

Fantasy 6: The Meds Are What Kills You.

Positively again within the early days of the epidemic, AZT—a type of remedy— was virtually the one treatment on the market for individuals dwelling with HIV/AIDS. And there have been critical unwanted effects, which made individuals seem like sicker than they had been earlier than they took the meds. And its toxicity did, in truth, finish in demise for some who took it. However thanks to higher and safer AIDS meds over the previous 20 years, we’ve seen individuals with HIV stay longer and more healthy lives.

Remedy doesn’t take lives, it saves them.

Fantasy 7: AIDS Is a Authorities Conspiracy to Kill Black People.

Granted, I can perceive why we select to consider this one. All we’ve got to do is look to our previous and current to see Black of us haven’t had the most effective relationship with the medical group. As I lately wrote, we’re totally conscious of the Tuskegee experiments, the stealing of Henrietta Lacks’ cervical cells and the pressured sterilization of Black ladies behind their backs. To not point out it’s clear this nation devalues black lives. Simply suppose: The water poisoning in Flint, Michigan, to the devastating state and police violence blacks face.

However that doesn’t imply AIDS is synthetic. It simply isn’t and to purchase into that’s counterproductive and doesn’t assist us mobilize and battle this epidemic.

So now that you’ve the true information, hopefully as a result of you realize higher, you’ll do higher and assist unfold the phrase, not HIV/AIDS myths.

(Supply: BlackHealthMatters.com; Kellee Terrell, HelloBeautiful)

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