Beauty and barber shops are more than just places where we go to look good. They are safe spaces, like church or grandma’s house, where Black people can express themselves and take care of their well-being. Surprisingly, recent research has shown that these trusted spaces can also play a crucial role in preventing HIV infections among Black women.
Data reveals that Black cisgender women account for nearly 60% of new HIV infections in U.S. women, but only 10% of women who could benefit from PrEP (a medication that helps prevent HIV) are actually prescribed it. However, a new study suggests that discussing PrEP at hair salons could increase awareness and knowledge of the drug among Black women, while dispelling the misconception that HIV only affects gay men.
The study, published in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, introduces an initiative called UPDOs Protective Styles: Using PrEP and Doing It for Ourselves. Led by Duke researcher Schenita D. Randolph, this intervention provides training to stylists on how to initiate conversations about HIV and PrEP. Participating stylists will receive a workshop tailored to their predominantly Black clientele, along with continuing education credits and “Ask Me about PrEP” signage for their salons. Additionally, they will have access to online resources and a community advisory council that uses entertaining methods to convey important messages about HIV, PrEP, and Black women’s contributions to health.
While it may seem unusual to discuss intimate and sexual health in a salon, this initiative couldn’t have come at a better time. Surprisingly, 45% of the participants in Randolph’s research believed they had no risk of contracting HIV, while another 50% perceived themselves as being at low risk. These beliefs contradict the reality that Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV after heterosexual sex. Given the historical mistreatment of Black women in the medical field, it’s understandable that they may be hesitant to engage in conversations about a new drug. However, this initiative aims to inform and empower Black women to make choices that can protect their health.
Randolph’s study included data from 44 participants who visit the salon every two weeks. Most of these women identified as heterosexual and had an average age of 42 years. The findings from pre- and post-surveys indicate that awareness and trust in PrEP and PrEP providers significantly increased after receiving the intervention and resources during their salon visits. While participants expected less disapproval from people in their inner circles about PrEP, stereotypes and stigma surrounding PrEP users remained unchanged.
Randolph’s study is essential because Black women’s experiences and vulnerability to HIV have often been overlooked in discussions about prevention. Moreover, many Black women are unaware of their risk of HIV exposure. Understanding this, the initiative strives to address the misconception while providing important knowledge about PrEP. As an alarming example, the author personally never had a physician recommend PrEP as a safe approach to reproductive health. Black women need safe spaces like salons to share this empowering information.
Another study from 2021 also emphasizes the need for culturally responsive HIV prevention strategies tailored to Black women, especially those impacted by the justice system. In addition to misconceptions about their risk of HIV, other barriers preventing Black women from accessing PrEP include racism, bias, lack of knowledge among clinicians, intimate partner violence, limited access to healthcare, and high prescription costs.
While beauty salon interventions can’t solve all of these challenges, they can help fill the voids left by the medical system. It’s crucial to invest in HIV prevention strategies that align with the cultural identities and real-life experiences of Black women. Leaving the salon not only with a new look but also with a better understanding of PrEP can be seen as a radical act of self-care that we should all support.
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