National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is dedicated to raising awareness about the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and African American communities. First observed in 1999, NBHAAD highlights the importance of community involvement and improved access to HIV education, prevention, testing, and treatment services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), national HIV prevention efforts led to a 10 percent decrease in the number of Black or African American people diagnosed with HIV between 2017 and 2021. Despite this decrease, HIV continues to have a disproportionate impact in Black communities. In 2021, 40 percent of new HIV diagnoses occurred in Black and African American people, although this population accounted for only 13 percent of the total population. This disparity is even wider in the South, where Black and African American people accounted for 49 percent of new diagnoses in 2021 but comprised only 19 percent of the population. In addition, the majority of new HIV diagnoses occur in Black or African American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Within this population, young Black and African American MSM are the most affected subpopulation—three of four new HIV diagnoses in Black and African American MSM are among people ages 13-34.