Objectives

Using Comics as a Medium to

Educate Black Women on
HIV Prevention
Participants will
Participants will identify
understand the importance

Meeting
ways to use non traditional
The United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) is now the United of health literacy and
Track Presentation States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA). The conference name representation when
communication channels to
reach specific populations.
Presented on 10.20.20 change reflects the importance of eliminating stigmatizing language
creating health messaging
and accurately reflecting the current state of the epidemic.
to reduce disease
transmission.

Using Comics as a Medium to Educate

Welcome Message Black Women on HIV Prevention Funding Disclosure
Owning your sexuality and sex drive is one of the most empowering things a woman can do. Compounded with
In a world where black women are dying from medical racism, black people are being murdered in the street by To be transparent regarding the information provided, we would like to disclose the information presented is
knowledge, resources and brave spaces; it is within this agency informed decisions are made. We are excited to
bring you on the journey of Luna and how we are educating black women in an innovative and non traditional way THE POLICE, a pandemic has the United States facing a health care and economic crisis; we need a hero like funded by Gilead Sciences.
on all things sexual health and reproductive justice. Luna.
”

A parkour enthusiast and student nurse, Luna is suddenly bestowed powers that allow her to save the people
around her in unexpected ways.

But, there are greater powers looming behind the scenes. Luna, her sister and their mother will have to marshal
their collective power to make it through.

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Using Comics as a Medium to Educate

Black Women on HIV Prevention
❏ Black women continue to be diagnosed with HIV at disproportionately higher rates
relative to white and Hispanic/Latina women
❏ Black women still accounted for 6 in 10 new HIV infections among women in 2016
❏ More than 7,000 women — 19 percent of all new cases — received an HIV diagnosis in
the United States in 2017
❏ HIV/AIDS-related illness is among the leading causes of death for black women ages
25-34
❏ Black women are often left out of the conversation, funding and resources
Research Question Research Methodology
Can health centered comics be an effective medium for communicating reproductive/sexual health information Using a comic book centered on a black woman protagonist, readers join in on adventures that force them to face
realities faced by various community members of age, gender, sexual, and health diversity through the lens of
and increasing HIV awareness?
” health and education. After reading two issues of the forthcoming five issue series, readers participated in a
focus group on their increase in knowledge and motivations around HIV testing. Focus group participants were
recruited via social media (Facebook groups and Instagram). They received 2 copies of the comic, and after
reading were asked to complete a survey, and participate in a one hour focus group.
”

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LUNA:Unleashed

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 Participant Demographics Participant Data
Most participants (82.8%) knew their HIV status...although it had been more than a year since their

Research participants (n=29) were well educated (72.4% college/grad school education), heterosexual (86.2%), last HIV test.

women (100% female) of color (79% African American) ranging from ages 14-56.

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Participant Data Research Results Research Results

A majority of participants reported an increase in knowledge of sexual health and HIV after reading
Most participants knew their HIV status...although it had been more than a year since their (69%) last
LUNA: Unleashed (69%) and over a third increased motivation (48.3%) to get tested or learn more
HIV test.
about their HIV status.
A majority of participants reported an increase in knowledge of sexual health and HIV after reading
LUNA: Unleashed (69%) and over a third increased motivation (48.3%) to get tested or learn more
about their HIV status.

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Research Conclusions Participant Commentary

*LUNA: Unleashed provided for me a gateway to open
Using the comic LUNA: Unleashed to increase knowledge on sexual health and HIV awareness was
the door for conversations regarding sexual health, but
effective among a population of well educated, heterosexual African American women and girls. also relationships as well. It also, allows you to assess
Future research will consist of examining effectiveness among younger and less educated audiences, your sexual health, and knowledge. . But what drew me
as well as among more racially and sexually diverse readers. to this project was I curious about a person having a
*Absolutely loved it! Very informative
and comical at the same time
*Luna Unleashed is real raw and
relatable. It tells a story about what
black women have been dealing with

relationship with someone who has HIV. Of course you
have to protect yourself, but also, having a healthy
relationship as well. That is not a mainstream narrative. I
believe LUNA has big impact, it can break down barriers,
and give voice to a narrative that is not normative.
Thank You!
for decades, IPV, medical distrust,
Education, Seroconversion. I think
Luna would be a great tool to use for
educational purposes, sister circles,
and to share with family and friends I
really enjoyed it.

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Our
Contact

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