Hispanic community faces HIV threat
Updated 8:49 pm, Friday, October 12, 2012
HIV/AIDS is a significant health threat to the Hispanic/Latino community in the United States, affecting every segment of the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Hispanics who learn they are HIV positive progress to AIDS faster than any other racial or ethnic group. Forty-two percent of Hispanics diagnosed as HIV positive progress to AIDS within 12 months, compared to 34 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 35 percent of African-Americans.
In addition, the rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic women is more than four times that of white women and the rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic men is almost three times that of white men.
Today is the 10th annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) - a national community mobilization campaign that was established in 2003 by the Latino Commission on AIDS in response to the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS on Hispanic communities nationwide. NLAAD unites the diverse Hispanic community in an effort to raise HIV awareness, promote HIV testing, prevention and education.
With no single Hispanic culture in the U.S., the factors driving the epidemic in this population are as diverse as the communities themselves.
Socioeconomic factors, stigma, cultural factors, high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and higher rates of HIV make up the complex catalysts driving the high rates of HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic community.
As a member of the Hispanic community, this issue hits very close to home. All members of the community should talk to their friends, family, partners, co-workers and neighbors about taking the test and reducing risky behaviors.
We all know that HIV/AIDS is a global and national problem, but as the U.S. HIV/AIDS strategy reminds us, first and foremost, it is a local problem. There are approximately 20,000 people known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Houston and of that total number, approximately 21.2 percent are Hispanic.
The good news is that individuals for the first time ever now have access to a rapid HIV test they can take in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, creating a testing option for those who may not seek testing due to fear of stigma associated with HIV in the community. Rapid in-home testing uses oral fluid by way of a mouth swab and provides results in just 20 minutes. In addition, there are many other places to get tested, including hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and physician offices.
NLAAD is a perfect opportunity to encourage Hispanics to learn more about HIV/AIDS and get tested to find out their status. By educating people early on how to protect themselves - and helping them learn their status earlier - we can reduce the number of AIDS-related deaths and sooner connect those who are infected to medical care.
Knowing your status is the best option. In honor of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, I urge all members of the Hispanic community to get tested. People can call 1-866-436-6527 or visit www.nlaad.org to learn more about rapid in-home HIV testing and where to order the test.
Chacon is president of the Latino Commission on AIDS.