The Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, launched the latest iteration of its program dedicated to sexual health earlier this week.
Known as the “Spill the Tea College Ambassador Program,” the program has Black women ages 18 to 24 talk about health issues such as HIV and STIs. A group of ambassadors will receive education on topics such as antiretroviral medicines, PrEP, and PEP.
The training curriculum is based on ViiV Healthcare’s Risk to Reasons guidelines. The framework is developed specifically to increase HIV prevention for the care of Black women. Along with a 90-minute session called “Spill the Tea: Reclaiming Your Voice,” “Spill the Tea” will also feature activities, including a card game titled “What’s Tea.”
Since the program began in 2023, approximately 17 ambassadors have taken part, reaching more than 300 community members.
“We spend time unpacking participants’ own ideas about sex, STIs, HIV, and the stigmas they may already carry,” said PPMW Director of Education Aleia Mays per a press release. “This work matters because Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV in this country. And learning from someone who looks like you, who maybe has had the same misconceptions, concerns, or hesitations, can make all the difference.”
As of the latest research presented in 2024, Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black Americans are amongst the people most affected by the disease in the U.S, recording approximatey 37% of new infections in 2022.
Amongst women, Black women are also the most affected, making up approximately 50% of all cases. Out of 7,046 diagnosed cases amongst women, 3,524 patients were Black women.
Despite being amongst the people most linked to HIV, Black Americans are often given delayed treatment or do not receive care at all. Per the CDC, only 80% of Black Americans get care once diagnosed.
Timely care is instrumental in improving health outcomes when it comes to HIV, as professionals urge patients to get treated within 1 month of diagnosis. Through antiretroviral therapy (ART), the amount of the virus is reduced to an undetectable level. The virus is also therefore not as transmissible. Treatment can be administered through either a pill or a shot.
With their latest initiative, the Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, will work to dispel any stigmas about treatment and diagnosis.
