National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

[Announcer] This podcast is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC - safer, healthier people.

Hello, I'm Dr. Ken Dominguez from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is an annual campaign organized by the Latino Commission on AIDS to remind Latinos that testing and prevention are essential to curtail the HIV crisis among the Latino community.

The theme of this year's campaign is "Wake Up! Take Control! and Take the Test!" It highlights the need to get tested for HIV, to learn your HIV status, and to take steps to protect your health. As we know, HIV continues to pose a major threat to the health and well-being of Latinos in the U.S. Although Hispanics account for just 13% of the population, they comprise 18% of new HIV diagnosis.

Also, we're aware that Hispanics have the second highest rate of HIV diagnoses among all racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. after African Americans.

Also, for example, we know that modes of transmission vary greatly by place of birth so while we know for example that injection drug use infection is more common in Puerto Rico. Folks that get infected through male to male sex are more likely to have been born in US, South America, Cuba, & Mexico. So it is really important that our prevention efforts are designed to reach a multi-ethnic Latino community.

Being a Latino in and of itself is not a risk factor but the realities of some Latinos lives may mean greater vulnerability to HIV. There are a number of barriers to prevention and treatment of HIV for example, limited access to health care and language barriers. In addition, some Latinos are in denial about their risk for HIV transmission. Also, high rates of STDs can facilitate HIV transmission. We know that Latinos are approximately twice as likely as whites to be diagnosed with gonorrhea or syphilis and Many Latinos test too late in the course of their infection to fully benefit from life-prolonging treatment. Migration can contribute to HIV infection through such factors as loneliness, isolation and separation from your partner.

So, encourage friends and family members to get tested and learn about HIV. For more information on HIV or to find out where to get tested, visit www.hivtest.org or call 1-800-CDC INFO.

And remember, this October 15th join NLAAD and CDC and Take Action! Wake Up! Take an HIV Test! Thank you.

[Announcer] To access the most accurate and relevant health information that affects you, your family and your community, please visit www.cdc.gov.