FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16th, 2007

Attn: Fred Wyand
P.O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
(919) 361 - 3124 (voice)
(919) 361 - 8425 (fax)
mediarelations@ashastd.org

Report: Hispanic Communities in the U.S. Impacted by HIV/AIDS

Research Triangle Park, NC - A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spotlights just how serious a problem HIV/AIDS is for Hispanics in the U.S. and the American Social Health Association (ASHA) calls on policymakers to strengthen and expand prevention efforts for these

CDC examined data between 2001-2005 from 33 states with name-based HIV reporting. The data showed that in 2005, Hispanics were diagnosed with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) at a rate three-fold that of whites and while they were just over 14% of the U.S. population that year, Hispanics represented nearly 19% of all reported AIDS cases.

The report also found risk factors among Hispanics varied by birthplace: Compared to Hispanics born in the U.S., those born in South America, Cuba, and Mexico were more likely to be infected through male to male sexual contact. Hispanics born in the Dominican Republic and Central America more frequently were infected through high risk heterosexual contact (sex with partner who has HIV or is at high risk for the infection), while injection drug use was a greater risk factor for those from Puerto Rico

ASHA president and CEO Lynn B. Barclay says prevention programs won't be fully effective unless they're tailored to the needs of each community: "A one size fits all approach isn't likely to work. Hispanics in America represent different ethnicities and nationalities, and for HIV and STI prevention programs to truly work, this diversity must be taken into account."

ASHA's Spanish-language initiatives include brochures, booklets, and posters that give culturally sensitive STI education and support. ASHA also offers twin English/Spanish language websites, www.iwannaknow.org and www.quierosaber.org, that provide sexual health information for hundreds of thousands young people

Reference:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
HIV/AIDS Among Hispanics -
United States, 2001-2005. MMWR 2007;56:[1052-1057].

The American Social Health Association is a trusted, non-profit organization that has advocated on behalf of patients to help improve public health outcomes since 1914. We are America's authority for sexually transmitted infection information. ASHA is recognized by the public, patients, providers and policy makers for developing and delivering accurate, medically reliable information about STIs. Public and college health clinics across the United States order ASHA's educational pamphlets and books to give to clients and students. Community-based organizations depend on ASHA, too, to help communicate about risk, transmission, prevention, testing and treatment.