HIV Cases Rise Among Gay Latinos

While the estimated new HIV infection rates have declined 23% from 2012 to 2022, the rate has not fallen for Latinos as much as it has for other racial and ethnic groups, according to a KFF Health News-Associated Press analysis. In fact, Latinos had the highest number of new HIV diagnoses and infections among gay and bisexual men in 2022, with about 33% of new HIV infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The highest rates of diagnosis for this group are in the Southeast region, where rates have gone up in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and Shelby County, Tennessee. In addition, the HIV diagnosis rates have also grown among Latinos in places with more resources to address the increases, including San Francisco, California.

Latinos face barriers in receiving HIV treatment, including preventative treatment such as PrEP. A study by Carlos Saldana, MD, Emory University School of Medicine and former medical advisor for Geogia’s health department, and colleagues, found that among a group of about 40 gay Latinos and men who have sex with men from February 2021 to June 2022, many had not taken PrEP and struggled to understand the health care system. They also faced a lack of transportation and experienced fear of deportation if they sought treatment.

According to the KFF analysis, only 4% of the $30 billion provided from the federal government for HIV health services went toward prevention in 2022. Latino health policy advocates recommend that the CDC declare this situation a public health emergency in order to get more funding for Latino communities, including for testing and access to PrEP.

The Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative will receive $2.3 billion over fives years with 25% of it to be invested in community-based organizations. However, it will be up to individual cities to come up with specific strategies to assist Latinos. Advocates suggest that the money could be used in Latino community efforts such as faith-based outreach at churches, testing at clubs on Latin nights, and training bilingual HIV testers.

Reference

Sanchez V, Reese P, Bose D. Young gay Latinos see a rising share of new HIV cases, leading to a call for targeted funding. AP Health. June 24, 2024. https://www.abc27.com/news/health/ap-health/ap-young-gay-latinos-see-a-rising-share-of-new-hiv-cases-leading-to-a-call-for-targeted-funding/