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National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day
October 15, 2019
National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, October 15, is observed each year to focus on the continuing and disproportionate impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) on Hispanics/Latinos in the United States.
The Latino Commission on AIDS (LCOA), the Hispanic Federation and other organizations organize this day to build capacity for non-profit organizations and health departments to reach Latino/Hispanic communities, promote HIV testing, and provide HIV prevention information and access to care.
In 2017, 26% of newly diagnosed HIV infections occurred in Hispanics/Latinos. Seventy-five percent of these newly diagnosed HIV infections in Hispanics/Latinos were in men who have sex with men (MSM), and an additional 3% were in MSM who inject drugs[1].
An analysis of the behaviors of Hispanic/Latino MSM included in CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system found that nearly 75% reported having had condomless anal sex during 2017 [2]. However, because some of these MSM reported using preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), fewer than 60% of those who were non–U.S.-born and fewer than 50% of those who were U.S.-born were having unprotected anal sex[2].
National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to encourage increased HIV prevention efforts among Hispanics/Latinos. CDC supports testing, linkage to and engagement in care and treatment, and other efforts to reduce the risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV infection.
More information is available at HIV and Hispanics/Latinos and HIV and Hispanic/Latino Gay and Bisexual Men.
References
- CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2017. HIV surveillance report, vol. 29. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hivsurveillance-report-2017-vol-29.pdfpdf icon
- Trujillo L, Chapin-Bardales J, German EJ, Kanny D, Wejnert C; National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Study Group. Trends in sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men—19 urban areas, 2011–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:873–9.