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Updated: May 5, 2026

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: November 1, 2010
Manifestations and Lived Experiences of Structural Racism for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities Affected by HIV
Betelhem A Muno1, Mariam Haris2, Amra Zegeye3
1Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Objective:
To elucidate some of the manifestations of structural racism as a root cause of racialized inequities in HIV in the context of COVID-19, centered through the lens of community members with lived experiences.
Methods:
We partnered with eight community-based organizations to conduct focus group discussions structured around COVID-19 and HIV-related experiences. We utilized inductive coding and thematic analysis.
Results:
We conducted 10 focus group discussions (98 participants) across the United States between February and May 2023; 65% were ages 18-39, over 90% identified as Black, 39% were female, and 66% were cisgender. First, participants emphasized that structural racism intersects with other systems of oppression. Second, three main themes emerged as manifestations of structural racism: (1) lack of representation in state and federal decision-making levels, (2) differential access to resources, and (3) intergenerational mistrust and trauma.
Conclusion:
The intersecting impact of the HIV epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic underscores the pervasive effects of structural racism that manifests in the United States.
Health Equity Implications:
More than ever, researchers must champion the experiences and needs of racial and ethnic minority communities to affect structural change.
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