National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

    October 15th was National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD).

    National Latino AIDS Awareness Day provides communities with an opportunity to encourage HIV prevention, testing and treatment. This year’s theme, “Save A Life; It May Be Your Own,” urges Hispanics/Latinos to get tested for HIV.

HIV and Hispanics/Latinos

    The HIV epidemic continues to be a serious threat to the Hispanic/Latino community. The reasons are not directly related to race or ethnicity, but rather to some of the barriers faced by many Hispanic/Latinos, including poverty (being poor), migration, stigma, and acculturation into the U.S. culture (the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group).

    While Hispanics/Latinos represented approximately 15% of the United States population in 2008, they accounted for 19% of people diagnosed with HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 dependent areas with long-term confidential name-based infection reporting (2008 is the latest year for which surveillance information is available). From 2005-2008, the number of diagnoses of HIV infection increased in Hispanics/Latinos. The increase in the number of diagnoses may be due to increased HIV testing and other outreach efforts.

Impact on Hispanic/Latino Communities

    In 2007, HIV/AIDS was the fifth leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos aged 35-44 and the sixth leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos aged 25-34 in the US. In 2008, men made up 80% of all Hispanic/Latino adults and adolescents diagnosed with HIV infection in the 37 states and the 5 U.S. dependent areas, the majority of whom were men who have sex with men (MSM). Using data from 2007 to model lifetime risk of HIV diagnosis, it has been estimated that, at some point in life, 1 in 35 Hispanic/Latino men would receive a diagnosis of HIV infection, as would 1 in 114 Hispanic/Latina women, signaling that the HIV epidemic is still a significant concern for Hispanics/Latinos.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health agencies, and Hispanic/Latino communities have increased efforts to address the effects of the epidemic. Initiated in 2003 by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with faith and community organizations, the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day raises awareness of issues concerning HIV/AIDS with the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States and abroad.

    This year’s theme, “Save a Life; It May be your Own. Get Tested for HIV.” speaks to the critical role HIV testing and prevention education play as a result of late testing realities faced by Hispanic/Latino communities. We can promote healthy communities by facilitating partnerships, hosting community events that encourage people to seek HIV testing, counseling and treatment; and by developing and disseminating prevention strategies. 

What Hispanic/Latinos Can Do:

    · Learn whether or not they are infected with HIV by getting tested

    · Seek early medical care if they learn they are infected;

    · Protect themselves and others from HIV through safer sex practices and not sharing needles if they inject drugs;

    · Educate themselves and others about HIV;

    · Get involved in their communities to help prevent HIV or provide services to those in need.

 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Resources:

    · National Latino AIDS Awareness Day 2010: http://www.nlaad.org/

    · HHS Office of Minority Health  Center: NL-AAD http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=7010