HIV and Black People in Texas

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). It is a day to increase awareness, start conversations, and highlight the work being done to reduce HIV in Black Texans. It is also time to show support for Black Texans living with HIV, and continue action to end health inequities.

DSHS estimates that a Black Texan acquires HIV about every 6 hours and made up a third of Texans who acquired HIV in 2019.

Even though Black people make up about 13% of the Texas population, the 35,834 Black people living with diagnosed HIV in 2019 made up more than a third of all of Texans living with diagnosed HIV in 2019.

Most of the Black Texans living with diagnosed HIV in 2019 were Black gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Most of the Black people who got an HIV diagnosis in 2019 were MSM, but had a younger profile.

Black Texans living with diagnosed HIV in 2019	Black Texans diagnosed with HIV in 2019
By Age 100 people were younger than 15	By Age Four people were younger than 15
By Mode of Transmission PWID - People who Inject Drugs	By Mode of Transmission PWID - People who Inject Drugs

There are promising trends. The estimated number of Black Texans getting HIV has fallen by 17% since 2010 – from an estimated 1,800 acquisitions in 2010 to around 1,490 in 2019. The proportion of Black Texans living with HIV who know their status is 88% - very close to the goal of 90%.

These gains are not seen for all groups. From 2010 to 2019, the estimated number of Black heterosexual women who acquired HIV each year dropped by about 25%, but the estimated annual number of Black MSM who acquired HIV was stable. The proportion of Black MSM with HIV who know their status was also lower than Black women’s. DSHS is currently unable to estimate HIV acquisition and knowledge of status for transgender Texans.

HIV Trends among Black Texans

For people living with HIV, treatment is the key to a long, healthy life. People with HIV who take medicines regularly can reduce the amount of HIV in their bodies to very low levels. This is also called having a suppressed viral load. Having a suppressed viral load improves the health and wellbeing of people with HIV. It also means they cannot transmit HIV to others through sex.

In 2019, about three out of four Black Texans with diagnosed HIV had at least one HIV-related medical visit, and far fewer were in continuous treatment or had a suppressed viral load.

Had some care means someone had at least one HIV-related medical appointment in the year.
Retained in care means that they had at least two HIV-related medical visits at least 90 days apart during the year.
 

PrEP is a highly effective way to prevent HIV. It is a prescription medicine that when taken regularly can prevent HIV from taking hold in the body. It is recommended for people at higher risk of getting HIV, especially MSM and transgender women. DSHS estimates that only a small percent of people who could benefit from PrEP are using it. Find out more about PrEP.

These are not ordinary times, but you, your friends, and loved ones can still get PrEP, HIV testing, and treatment. Use the HIV services directory to find out how and where to get these services. If you need help affording your HIV treatment medications, the Texas HIV Medication Program may be able to help. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about getting a test or finding treatment.