The Effects of HIV/AIDS on the Retention of Black Women in College

Abstract

Although only contributing approximately 12% to the United States population, Black Americans account for the majority (51%) of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in this country. Black women in college between the ages of 18 and 24 fall directly in the center of these alarming statistics. These young women are faced with the psychosocial manifestations of internal negotiation, sacrifice of sexual safety, and ultimate threat of contracting HIV/AIDS, coupled with the negative social stereotypes attached to such behavior. Consequently, psychosocial ramifications of HIV/AIDS diagnoses play an integral role in the lives of the young Black women affected, including their decision to persist in their pursuit of a college degree. This article specifically explores the effects of HIV/AIDS on the retention of Black women in college.