Recently on the ABC television talk show The View, guest co-host D.L. Hughley commented, "When you look at the prevalence of HIV in the African American community, it's primarily young women who are getting it from men who are the down low." As you may know the phrase "the down low" refers to black men who are in straight relationships but also engage in sex with other men. The theory is that these men in turn go back to the straight relationships and infect their female partners. This is a theory to explain the prevalence of HIV among African American women. However, Dr. Kevin Fenton the director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explains that actually that is not the case at all. In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Dr. Fenton explains that actually the reasons are many with a collection of risk factors that account for the HIV prevalence among African American women. In fact, "down low" behavior actually accounts for only a very small proportion of all risk factors. Fenton also reminds us that non-disclosure of one's sexual behaviors is not unique to African American males. The simple truth is that African American women are being infected through heterosexual contact by men who have become infected either through injecting drugs themselves, through having multiple sexual partners or a smaller proportion through male bisexual activity. Prevention messages must be targeted for this wide range of risk factors. Attributing HIV among African American women to the "down low" theory will do nothing to slow the spread of HIV.
More Information About HIV in the African American Community
- What is Meant by "Down Low"
- What is the Incidence of HIV Among Gay African American Males
- The Importance of Culturally Sensitive HIV Care
Sources
Clark-Flory, T.; "The View Silent on HIV Misstep"; The Broadsheet; 10 Jul 2010.
Martin, M.; "Myth: HIV/AIDS Rate Among Black Women Traced To 'Down Low' Black Men"; NPR; 28 Oct 2009.
You cannot extrapolate intravenous drugs users FROM men who have sex with men. Shepard and Hugley were kind to call these men Downlow and NOT bisexual, because it’s obvious that drug addicts will have sex with ANYONE (i.e. gay men with HIV and black women) who can help them get drugs. Let’s be real — almost half of gay black men have HIV. They have sex with drug users who in turn have sex with black men OR bisexual black men have sex with HIV men and black women. I know how to use statistics and to lie with statistics. Let’s tell the truth. You’re misusing the CDC stats.
You cannot extrapolate intravenous drug users FROM men who have sex with men. Shepard and Hugley were kind to call these men Downlow and NOT bisexual, because it’s obvious that drug addicts will have sex with ANYONE (i.e. gay men with HIV and black women) who can help them get drugs. Let’s be real — almost half of gay black men have HIV. They have sex with drug users who in turn have sex with black women OR bisexual black men have sex with HIV men and black women. I know how to use statistics and to lie with statistics. Let’s tell the truth. You’re misusing the CDC stats.