DOTHAN, Ala. — According to the CDC, there are a disproportionate of African Americans that are affected by HIV and AIDS, making almost half of HIV diagnoses.
A commonly used phrase in the Black community is “what goes on in this house stays in this house,” as a reminder to always keep your business to yourself even if you’re suffering by doing so.
This is in the minds of many among the Black community.
This is why Black Americans have the highest number of HIV diagnoses compared to other races, according to the CDC. The Alabama Department of Public Health reported that from January 2020 to September 2020, Black Alabamians made up 70.1 percent of the newly diagnosed cases and 63.8 percent of the prevalent cases.
Keeping your business to yourselves, Education Outreach Coordinator Neice Danzey at Medical Advocacy Outreach feels religious beliefs play a role in this too.
“Depending on their faith based, they won’t get tested or don’t even wanna talk about because of how HIV is contracted,” Danzey said.
The Bible condemns sex before marriage so this is why many in the Black community don’t feel comfortable talking about it.
Danzey said many are comfortable with not knowing at all because they don’t want to be shamed by it.
She wants to normalize getting tested and talking about it in the Black community.
“Much of it has to do with a lack of true understanding, and sometimes it’s a lack of empathy as well I think we need to be more sensitive to the plight of what people are going through out there,” pastor Rawle Mitchell said.
Medical Advocacy and Outreach is offering free HIV at-home testing kits. To get one, just ask for Danzey.
