UNC CFAR Developmental awardee Katryna McCoy has been focusing her research on interventions for HIV disparities in North Carolina. HIV transmission is notably higher among racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S., with Black communities disproportionately affected. Despite comprising only 12 percent of the population, Black individuals represented 37 percent of those living with HIV in 2022. This disparity is compounded by systemic issues such as racism, economic marginalization, and limited access to healthcare. Black women face even steeper disparities, with HIV incidence among them being ten times higher than among white women and four times higher than Latina women.
In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Project EnSTEP, led by Dr. Katryna McCoy through the UNC CFAR, is addressing these disparities through targeted interventions. The project focuses on enhancing HIV prevention for Black cisgender women by implementing tailored pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness campaigns and improving healthcare provider communication. Additionally, to overcome financial barriers, the project introduced “testing tickets” to reimburse transportation costs, making it easier for individuals to access HIV testing and treatment services.
The awareness campaign developed for Project EnSTEP utilized community feedback to tailor its messaging, leading to increased PrEP awareness among Black women. The initiative also identified and sought to mitigate communication barriers between healthcare providers and patients regarding HIV prevention. The project’s success highlights the importance of targeted, community-driven approaches to improving HIV prevention and care.
Dr. McCoy’s efforts extend beyond the immediate scope of Project EnSTEP, aiming to foster broader involvement and support for underrepresented researchers in HIV research. Her work underscores a commitment to long-term community engagement and addressing disparities in HIV prevention and care.
To read more about Dr. McCoy’s project, click here.