Why African Communities?
After gay and bisexual men, African communities; particularly those from sub-Saharan Africa, are the second largest social group affected by HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom. The number of people livinf with HIV in African communities is high, with as many as 1 in 20 black African men and women in London estimated to be living with HIV. In addition people of black African ethnicity in the UK are more likely to present late in the course of infection when their immune systems are damaged, which is associated with a greatly increased risk of death.
In response to the disproportionate burden of HIV, leaders of all 32 Councils in London agreed to fund a new three-year London-wide HIV prevention programme (LHPP) from 2014/15. A total of £3.4 million was allocated to the programme, which delivers targeted HIV prevention to black African communities as well as gay/bisexual men.
University College London was commissioned by the LHPP and the National Institute for Health Research: School for Public Health Research to evaluate the LHPP to see how well it meets its aims and objectives. As part of the evaluation of the LHPP a large scale survey will be undertaken with black African communities in London.