Higher rates of poverty, unequal access to healthcare, and racism largely account for the disparity.
Latinx Communities and HIV
HIV is not distributed equally in Latinx communities.
Some groups are affected more than others.
FG Trade / Getty Images
Other social factors contribute to an increased risk of HIV in Latinx communities.
Chief among these is HIV-related stigma.
This is called dual marginalization.
Higher rates of poverty, lower rates of English proficiency, and traditional gender roles contribute to this disparity.
Even so, there are some features that stand apart from other groups.
Among them:
Contributing Factors
Health disparities among Latinx people with HIV are pervasive.
Lack of Health Insurance
Poverty also translates to lower rates of health insurance coverage.
Location
In addition to poverty, living in a rural area increases healthcare disparities in Latinx people.
Studies have shown that this dynamic alone increases the risk of late HIV diagnoses by 129%.
Know Your Status
The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested.
Those at high risk of infection may require more frequent testing.
Another alternative is to purchase anat-home HIV testavailable both online and in many drugstores.
The saliva-based test has a relatively high level of accuracy but may return afalse-negative resultif used incorrectly.
Even if you areHIV-positive, being placed on fully suppressive antiretroviral therapy reduces yourrisk of infecting others to zero.
There are several types of tests to choose from that require either a saliva or blood sample.
Treatment
HIV is treated withantiretroviral drugs.
There is no other form of treatment for HIV infection.
The drugs are prescribed incombinationand work by blocking various stages in thelife cycle of the virus.
Today, many antiretroviral drugs are combined intofixed-dose tablets, some of which require only one pill per day.
In 2021 the FDA approved a new drug calledCabenuva (cabotegravir + rilpivirine).
Cabenuva requires two injections monthly or every two months to achieve the same level of viral control.
HIV can only be diagnosed with an HIV test.
HIV Latinx Community Resources
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for preventing the spread of HIV.
Different communities require different approaches, and the Latinx community is no exception.
There are some resources already in place for Latinx communities.
Latinx women also remain at an exponentially greater risk of infection and death than their heterosexual male counterparts.
To counteract these statistics, widespread testing and treatment are needed, along with services tailored to Spanish-language speakers.
Language assistance services are available.
Request a Spanish-language interpreter if needed.
Complaints about workplace discrimination can be addressed to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at 800-669-4000.
Spanish-language interpreters are also available.
Free testing sites can be found using theonline locatoroffered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Free testing is often available from Planned Parenthood, as well.
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