PrEP Protects: What Black African women in England need to know
When it comes to HIV prevention, PrEP is a game-changer. Despite its proven effectiveness and free availability on the NHS in England, not everyone who could benefit from PrEP is using it, including Black African women.
It’s time to change that.
What Is PrEP?
PrEP is a medication taken by HIV-negative people to prevent HIV. When taken as prescribed, it’s over 99% effective at stopping HIV transmission through sex. It’s available for free on the NHS through sexual health clinics.
To take PrEP you have to test first to make sure you are HIV negative. You can take PrEP while using contraception and doesn’t stop any form of contraception from working. You can also use it if you are taking hormone replacement therapy for menopause. It is also safe to use when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
PrEP is not to be confused with PEP, which has been around for longer. PrEP is taken before and after sex, unlike PEP which is only prescribed after you may have been exposed to HIV.
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis while PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis.
Why this matters for Black African women
Black African women are one of the groups most affected by HIV in the UK, representing just over half (53%) of all women newly diagnosed with HIV in England in 2023. Despite this, very few (less than 125) Black African women used PrEP at some point in 2023.
The reasons why so few are using PrEP include:
- Not knowing about PrEP and how to get it in England
- Assuming that HIV is not likely to affect them
- Not being offered PrEP in sexual health clinics.
There’s still a lot of stigma around HIV including the idea that PrEP is only for gay men or people who are “promiscuous.” This is untrue and harmful as it can stop many people who could benefit from PrEP from asking for it.
What needs to be done?
Here’s what you can do to change things.
- Let’s make sure everyone knows about PrEP – Find out more and tell others about PrEP. Knowing about it gives you the chance to decide if it is the right thing for you or not. It also means you can talk to a health professional about it without relying on them raising the subject first. Get the facts on PrEP.
- Check if you could benefit from PrEP – If you are unsure that PrEP is right for you, here are some reasons why some people use PrEP that can help you decide. Many consider it a very effective way of staying in control of their health without relying on anyone else.
- Talk to a health professional – When you next visit your doctor or a sexual health clinic, talk to them about PrEP. Use the opportunity to discuss if it is something that you could consider for yourself for preventing HIV. Use the NHS website to find your nearest sexual health clinic.
Share this information with others so that everyone knows about PrEP.
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