Latino/a Populations
Updated May 2005
In 2003, 80,623 Latino/a individuals were living with HIV/AIDS in
the United States, ranking them the third highest racial or ethnic
population affected by HIV/AIDS in the country. Of this number of
Latino/a individuals living with HIV/AIDS, the three leading exposure
categories for diagnoses within were male-to-male sexual contact
(51%), injection drug use (30%), and heterosexual contact (12%).
These numbers suggest a lack in preventative HIV education and the
limited acceptance of HIV risk factors within Latino populations.
Social issues such as homosexuality, high-risk sexual behavior,
and substance abuse are largely unacknowledged in these communities
due to the cultural taboos they incur. In order to combat HIV risk
factors in Latino communities effectively, HIV/AIDS programs must
be tailored to address these social issues openly and with cultural
competency. The following organizations and publications communicate
the intricacies of HIV/AIDS and these social issues and provide
suitable resources for understanding the HIV/AIDS crisis within
Latino/a populations.
Organizations
Latino Commission on AIDS
The Latino Commission on AIDS is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and expanding health promotion, research, treatment, and other services to the Latino community through organizing, education, model program development, capacity building and training.
National Alliance for Hispanic Health
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is a network of health and human service providers serving over 10 million Hispanic consumers throughout the U.S. As the nation's action forum for Hispanic health and well-being, the Alliance strives to inform and mobilize consumers; support health and human service providers in the delivery of quality care; improve the science base for accurate decision making; promote appropriate use of technology; insure accountability and advocate on behalf of Hispanics.
National Council of La Raza
NCLR is a non-profit organization established to reduce poverty and discrimination, and improve life opportunities for Hispanic Americans. NCLR's Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH) works to reduce the incidence, burden, and impact of health problems in Hispanics. IHH has several initiatives dedicated to reducing HIV/AIDS infections among Hispanics, including the Latino Youth Peer-to-Peer HIV/STD Prevention Program and the Latina HIV Needs Assessment Program.
National Latino Behavioral Health Association
The National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA) was established to fill a need for a unified national voice for Latino populations in the behavioral health area. NLBHA brings attention to the disparities that exist in areas of access, utilization, practice-based research and adequately trained personnel, through the organization of policy roundtables, symposiums and other events.
National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization
LLEGÓ is a national non-profit organization devoted to organizing Latina/o LGBT communities on a local, regional, national and international level, addressing the need to overcome social, health, and political barriers faced due to sexual orientation, gender identity and ethnic background. LLEGÓ's programs address the need for culturally-based capacity building assistance service and mobilization of community efforts for HIV prevention, and support Latina/o youth leadership and Latino community-based organizations to participate and influence HIV prevention community planning.
Publications
Diaz, R. Latino Gay Men and HIV: Culture, Sexuality, and Risk Behavior. Routledge. 1998.
Diaz, R. et al. "The Impact of Homophobia, Poverty, and Racism on the Mental Health of Gay and Bisexual Latino Men: Findings from 3 U.S. Cities." Am J Public Health 2001 (91): 927-932.
Latina Health in the United States: a Public Health Reader. Aguirre-Molina M, Molina CW (Eds) Jossey-Bass. 2003.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Promotion in Latino Populations (Parteras, Promotaras y Poetas: a Case Study across the Americas. Torres MI, Cemada GP (Eds) Baywood Publications. 2003.
van Servellen G, Carpio F, Lopez M, Garcia-Teague L, Herrera G, Monterrosa F, Gomez R, Lombardi E. "Program to Enhance Health Literacy and Treatment Adherence in Low-Income HIV-Infected Latino Men and Women." AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2003 Nov 17(11): 581-94.