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Mahogany Blue: PrEP and Black Women

PrEP is for Me

Mahogany Blue: PrEP and Black Women

“Mahogany Blue” is a campaign dedicated to empowering women by recognizing the unique barriers Black women encounter in accessing HIV prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Between 2021-2023, nearly 8 out of 10 women diagnosed with HIV in Wayne County were Black. PrEP is safe and effective for women to take to reduce the chance of getting HIV. Mahogany Blue highlights the tools and resources to take control of your sexual health and allows you to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to protect yourself from getting HIV.

PrEP is medicine that can be taken to reduce a person's chances of getting HIV from sex or sharing needles or other injection equipment. PrEP is for people who do not have HIV, but have the chance of getting it. Taking PrEP as prescribed by a health care provider can reduce the chances of getting HIV by up to 99% from sex and by at least 74% from sharing needles or other injection equipment.

If you want to learn more about PrEP or are ready to take the next steps, you can use the resource finder to get a list of services and providers that best fit your needs.

Learn More About PrEP and Take the Next Steps
 

Medication also can be taken to prevent HIV after a possible exposure to help prevent transmission of the virus. This medication is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP can be prescribed by a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

If you have questions about PrEP or PEP, please call the Michigan HIV/STI Hotline at 800-872-2437 or visit misexualhealthinfo.com.

  • Find a PrEP Provider or Navigator

    PrEP providers are medical professionals that can prescribe PrEP, order necessary laboratory testing and conduct medication counseling. 

    PrEP navigation is a service that helps people start and stay on PrEP. PrEP navigators work to tailor education and support to meet people's needs. Navigation services include identifying and linking people to a PrEP provider for care, assisting with health insurance and financial assistance programs, and identifying and reducing barriers to care.

    To locate a PrEP provider or navigator near you, view the interactive map.

  • Learn More About PrEP

  • Your Health. Your Peace. Your Power.

    Black women deserve care that listens, information they can trust and the freedom to make informed decisions about their health. Bringing together the Mahogany Blue and Stop Syphilis campaigns, this infographic was inspired by the voices of Black women and informed by Michigan data. It provides clear guidance about HIV prevention, PrEP, syphilis and routine sexual health screening while helping women understand their options, navigate conversations with their health care providers, and connect to prevention and screening services that support lifelong wellness.

    In Michigan, Black women continue to experience disproportionately high rates of HIV and syphilis, yet fewer than 2% of eligible Black women are using PrEP. Routine screening, along with PrEP, can help prevent HIV, support early diagnosis and treatment, and empower women to make informed decisions about their health.

    Whether you are learning about PrEP for the first time or looking for trusted sexual health resources, this page is here to support you. Explore the infographic, provider directory, My Prevention Green Book and a conversation guide to help women advocate for themselves and have informed conversations about pleasure and PrEP.

    Infographic with information about HIV prevention, PrEP and the Mahogany Blue campaign.

  • How to Self-Advocate with Your Doctor

    This information was provided with permission from the Black Women’s Learning Institute (BWLI).

    Self-care starts before you arrive at your appointment. Make sure you prepare yourself by organizing your information: appointment dates/times, doctor name(s) and location(s). Be mindful of some steps that can help you along the way.

    Prepare

    • Keep track of all your scheduled medical appointments: Use phone or calendar reminders and arrive a little early for the visit. This helps you get done faster too!
    • Bring a support person along for appointments: Ask someone you love/trust to attend your appointments with you. This often helps with confidence when speaking directly with doctors. The trusted loved one sometimes can help you with questions and remembering visit follow-up instructions. Note: Check clinic rules ahead of time to be sure guests are allowed. 
    • Make a list of questions in advance: Making a list of questions in advance helps you focus on all the concerns you wanted to address with the provider in the short time you have for a typical office visit. This will also force the provider to address your specific needs and make you feel heard.
    • Bring a list of medications: Save this list in your phone for quick reference.
    • Coordinate Care: If you have multiple doctors – like a primary care provider, OB/GYN, a chiropractor, an orthopedist and a PrEP Provider – this is your care team. Make sure they are communicating or at least have shared access to your medical records to understand important things going on with your health.
    • Create a health journal to use ahead of your visit: Never downplay concerns. Honestly report severity of pain, stress, anxiety, trauma and illness.
      • Journal to document issues of pain (start/end) and when/if symptoms are worse in the day or night.
      • Journal to note any other physical concerns – like a lump, bump or bruise, difficulty sleeping or breathing, headaches, change in mood/appetite, etc.
      • Journal to document major changes in menstrual cycle like heavy bleeding or missed periods.
      • Journal to document how treatment/medicine makes you feel.
      • Journal to document length of and severity of illnesses including flu, COVID-19 and other conditions.

    Important to note: Some health concerns cannot be managed during your annual checkup, for instance, if you are sick during your annual check-up, you cannot receive vaccinations or certain screenings. It is best to contact your primary care provider as soon as you have health issues to schedule a health appointment for any specific concerns you are having. This can help avoid frustration at the time of your regular check-up.

    Communicate Openly

    • Share specifics: Honest sharing equals more effective medical care. So don’t be afraid.  
    • Respect: Tell your doctor how you prefer to be addressed (proper pronouns, name, Ms. Mrs., etc.) 
    • Language: Use real terms when speaking about your body (instead of “cute” language, say “vagina”, “breast”, etc.)
    • Meds and supplements: Tell doctor about all drugs you take – herbal, homeopathic, supplements, vitamins, homemade spiritual root teas, illegal street drugs, etc.
    • Missed doses: It happens to everyone, doctors know it. Sometimes it may mean it's time for a change, so it’s important to be honest about the number of missed doses for your health.
    • Family history: This helps doctors know if anything genetically may require a different care approach.
    • Personal medical history: Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding, have lung, heart, or kidney issues, etc. The more insight they have, the better they will be at taking care of you. 

    Press pause: It’s OK to question or challenge your provider. Ask for clarification and information as needed, for example:

    • “Do you have more information about this medication? I am not sure I am ready to start just yet.”
    • “Could there be another cause for my issue? I would like to explore all my options first.”
    • “I do not like my current treatment(s), are there any alternatives we can look into?”
    • “I’m unsure of the side effects for women (or for a person with your specific health issues), can you share more information about this?”
    • “I tried this medication for a few days, and I don’t like how it is making me feel. I want to switch meds.”
    • “I want to make sure I am clear on the next steps. Can we review the discharge instructions?”

    Instant replay: Make sure you understand before you leave.

    • Take notes during your office visit or record on your phone to help you keep track of what you need to do.
    • Recap your visit instructions with the provider before you leave to make sure you are clear.
    • Double check that all your questions have been answered. Do you feel heard? Do you feel seen?
    • Be sure to schedule your next appointment before you head home – follow-up care is just as important. It’s OK to move on if you feel your provider is not responding appropriately. You can file a complaint or you can find a new provider. Trust your gut!

    The Black Women’s Learning Institute (BWLI) is a national center targeting the health and wellness needs of Black women across the lifespan. Through thoughtful and trust-based community engagement, in collaboration with BWLI's local partner, the University of Louisville 550 Clinic, Black women created My Prevention Green Book. Critical conversations deepened the understanding of historical and current issues impacting Black women’s health, inspiring the development of this resource. Inspired by the original 1936 Green Book, BWLI pays homage to history while ensuring the safety of Black women with tailored health information and vetted resources.

    BWLI Logo

  • PrEP Payment Assistance

  • Resources

    If you have questions about PrEP, please call the Michigan HIV/STI Hotline at 800-872-2437 or visit misexualhealthinfo.com.

    Provider Resources:

About Mahogany Blue

Black communities have been hit especially hard by HIV with new diagnosis rates nine times higher than white communities. The Mahogany Blue campaign presents an opportunity to promote PrEP utilization among Black women by decreasing stigma, medical mistrust, the lack of awareness about PrEP and insurance challenges. The campaign is dedicated to empowering women by recognizing the unique barriers Black women encounter in accessing HIV prevention tools like PrEP. Through heightened awareness, advocacy for research inclusive of stratified data for Black women and community engagement, MDHHS aims to implement meaningful change and ensure equitable health care access for all.

Mahogany Blue is an adaptation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) "She's Well" campaign and features Black women of various hues, shapes and ages in informational materials customized for Wayne County. Mahogany is a nod to not only the various shades of Black women, but also the resiliency of Black women. “Blue” references PrEP medication that has traditionally been recognized as a blue pill. While the original PrEP pill was blue in color, PrEP now comes in many colors and forms. Patients and providers can work together to determine the best form of PrEP for their needs.

Mahogany Blue PrEP Campaign Materials