Recognizing National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

October 15 marks National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day. Each year, this day aims to increase the awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Hispanic/Latino population.

What is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day?

NLAAD focuses on increases awareness, prevention, and access to HIV/AIDS services to the Hispanic and Latino communities. It takes a village, and that means everyone learning about HIV, preventing new infections, helping people with HIV stay healthy, and end the epidemic. 

How HIV/AIDS affects Latinxs

Although Hispanic/Latinos represent around 18 percent of the total population in the United States, they accounted for 26 percent of the new HIV diagnoses in 2016. Like other minorities, HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects Hispanics/Latinxs. From 2011 to 2015, new HIV diagnoses increased 13 percent among Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men.

HIV continues to be a threat to the Latinx communities

According to the CDC, Latinos are at a high risk for being diagnosed with HIV. Barriers like poverty, migration patterns, lower educational level, and language can make it harder for Latinos to get tested for HIV and receive services. In addition, stigma, fear, discrimination, and homophobia surrounding HIV and same-sex intimacy can prevent Latinos from seeking out care or sharing their concerns with their communities. 

The following statistics indicate that there is a continued need for awareness, prevention, and access to services. You can read more about HIV Latino statistics here.

• One in six Latinos with HIV are unaware they have it.
• An estimated 252,400 Hispanics/Latinos had HIV at the end of 2015. Of those, an estimated 84% were aware of their infection.
• Among all Hispanics/Latinos with HIV in 2015, 59% received HIV medical care in 2015, 49% were retained in HIV care, and 50% had a suppressed viral load.

• In 2015, there were 2,863 deaths among Hispanics/Latinos with diagnosed HIV in the United States and 6 dependent areas. (These deaths may be due to any cause.)

• In 2016, 10,292 Hispanics/Latinos received an HIV diagnosis in the United States and 6 dependent areas.
• In 2016, eighty-seven percent (8,999) of Hispanics/Latinos who received an HIV diagnosis were men and 12% (1,277) were women.

How Apicha CHC can help you

At Apicha CHC, we are very proud of our viral load suppression rate for all our patients, the number of our patients on PrEP, and the number of people we get tested.

Our healthcare providers are specialists in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. If you come for testing and remain for care at our community health center, you will receive consistent treatment from a healthcare provider who can attend to all of your health needs including HIV. You can request an appointment here, or click the link below.