Veterans Day Message: Honoring Latino Military Servicemembers And Their Commitment To America.

HIV/AIDS

Join LULAC in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We encourage all Latinos to participate in frank and open discussion about HIV and AIDS. By having these conversations, you are helping to increase HIV and AIDS awareness and decrease HIV-associated stigma and shame on a local and national level. Each and every voice and conversation counts.

Latinos and HIV/AIDS

Hispanics/Latinos in the United States are disproportionately affected by HIV, with nearly 19% of the 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States considering themselves Hispanic. Far more concerning is the fact that 21% of new patients diagnosed with HIV each year are Latino. If current trends continue, an estimated 1 in 36 Hispanic/Latino men and 1 in 106 Hispanic/Latina women will be diagnosed with HIV at some point in their lifetime.

  • In 2013, HIV was the eighth leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos aged 25-34 in the United States and the ninth leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos aged 35-54.

Barriers to Treatment

HIV treatment helps people with HIV live healthy lives and prevents transmission of the virus to partners. However, too few Latinos diagnosed with HIV receive the care and treatment they need.

CDC study found that, among Latinos who have been diagnosed with HIV, just over half were retained in care. 44% of those diagnosed have been prescribed antiretroviral therapy and just 37% have achieved viral suppression.

Prevention Challenges

  • Social and Economic Factors: the social and economic realities of some Latinos’ lives, including poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to healthcare, can increase HIV risk. Language barriers may also affect the quality of care.
  • Cultural Factors: may affect the risk of HIV infection. Some Hispanics/Latinos may avoid seeking testing, counseling, or treatment if infected because of immigration status, stigma, or fear of discrimination.
  • Immigration Status: because of fear of disclosing immigration status and possible deportation, undocumented Hispanic/Latino immigrants may be less likely to access HIV prevention services, get an HIV test, or receive adequate treatment and care if they are living with HIV.