Welcome To The Black Women and PrEP Toolkit
What is PrEP?
PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a proven HIV prevention method for people who have taken an HIV test and know they are HIV-negative. It is a daily pill that is FDA-approved, safe, and effective at preventing HIV by over 90%. Currently, Truvada and Descovy are approved by the FDA for the United States.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about PrEP
Why Did We Create The Black Women and PrEP Toolkit?
At CROI 2018, new data about PrEP use confirmed that of approximately 500,000 Black people who could potentially benefit from PrEP, only 7,000 prescriptions have been filled. This data underscores what has been known for a while: Black communities, especially Black women, are not getting crucial information about this trusted and effective HIV prevention tool.
Recognizing this information gap around PrEP, BAI spoke to Black women around the country, as well as to providers and community advocates, to find out what is needed to raise more awareness around this prevention treatment.
What Is The Black Women and PrEP toolkit?
Ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities will take multi-faceted, innovative, and intentional approaches. Launched in time for the 2018 National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10), the Black Women and PrEP Toolkit is a product of those conversations—created for Black women by Black women.
This initiative was launched, in part, with Gilead Sciences.
This toolkit contains:
- Branded posters that can be co-branded for your organization
- Brochures and presentations for community education
- Resources created by other organizations doing great work around PrEP for Black women.
- Information about how the Black AIDS Institute can provide your organization or health department training and capacity building services to increase PrEP awareness and utilization
PrEP Basics
- Brochure: Black Women and PrEP
- BAI Brochure HIV 101: Black Women and HIV Brochure
- Frequently Asked Questions About PrEP
- AIDSVu map to find PrEP in your community
- NASTAD resource to find out if your insurance covers PrEP
- Video campaign from Greater than AIDS: “Ask the HIV Doctor”
PrEP News and Research
Science literacy is central to the Black AIDS Institute philosophy. Communities and providers alike must know about the latest developments in biomedical interventions, as well as conversations taking place around PrEP in the public sphere. We’ll be posting articles and research that we find interesting below:
- “Health Care Providers Aren’t Talking to Black Women about PrEP” from TheBodyPro
- CDC Announcement on PrEP disparities from CROI 2018
- “CDC: Few People Who Could Benefit From PrEP Are Using It” from TheBodyPro
- “Predictors of Willingness to take PrEP among Black and Latina Transgender Women” from CROI 2018
- “Predictors of PrEP Eligibility Among At-Risk Women in the Southern United States” from CROI 2018
PrEP Posters
Spread the word about the diversity of PrEP. Check out these PrEP posters that can be co-branded by your organization to educate your communities about PrEP.
To co-brand these materials, please contact please contact Maya Merriweather.
PrEP Training and Capacity Building
We believe healthcare organizations and health departments are critical public health institutions in the fight to end HIV in Black communities across the country.
We envision this being possible when state health departments have the support needed to provide culturally affirming, high-impact HIV services to Black communities that lead to equity in health outcomes, including access to and awareness of PrEP.
Here are some topics we provide trainings on through our national Training and Capacity Building program. See the full list of our offerings and their descriptions here.
- PrEP Implementation
- Medical Mistrust
- Racial Equity and Advocacy
- Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
- Stigma
Here are ways we partner with health departments.
- Design, develop and facilitate trainings for providers, advocates, and educators
- Design, develop and facilitate PrEP Summits
- Design, develop and facilitate PrEP Learning Collaboratives
- Offer guidance on designing culturally respectful outreach materials in-house
- Create co-branded materials like posters and brochures for public engagement
State-level health departments across the nation have partnered with the BAI to create unique to the needs of their jurisdiction. Here are some of the examples of Black women’s campaigns situated throughout the county:
Louisiana Health Department:
The Louisiana Department of Health Office of Public Health STD/HIV Program is supporting the Black Women and PrEP campaign in partnership with the Black AIDS Institute.
This campaign is to ensure Black Women are aware of PrEP and the effectiveness of PrEP if taken as prescribed. Additionally, this campaign will be designed to begin honest conversations and dialogues about women’s wellness.
Learn more about the Louisiana Health Hub here.
National Association of County Health Officials (NACCHO)
It is the only organization dedicated to serving every local health department in the nation. NACCHO serves 3000 local health departments and is the leader in providing cutting-edge, skill-building, professional resources and programs, seeking health equity, and supporting effective local public health practice and systems.
Feedback from the HIV community and from Black women themselves can help BAI continually improve and adapt this resource. For more information on, or to provide feedback please contact Maya Merriweather.
