According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2012 and 2022, estimated rates of new HIV infections decreased by 23 percent. However, new infections are highly concentrated in racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans, Native Americans, and especially Latinos.
John McCarten/NYC Council
A press conference on AIDS awareness in the Latino community in 2019.
In 2019 The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the campaign called “Ending the HIV Epidemic” to end the HIV epidemic in the country by 2030.
And while estimated rates of new HIV infections declined by 23 percent between 2012 and 2022, not all groups saw this decline.
New infections are highly concentrated in racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos. According to a analysis from KFF Health News and the Associated Pressthe rate has not declined as much among Latinos as it has for other racial and ethnic groups.
While African Americans continue to have the highest rates of HIV in the United States overall, in 2022 Latinos accounted for the largest share of new HIV diagnoses and infections among gay and bisexual men, compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
According to the report by KFF Health News and the AP, Congress has allocated $2.3 billion dollars for the campaign, but in 34 of the 57 areas receiving money, cases did not decrease.
In 2022, Latinos accounted for 36 percent of new HIV diagnoses among men who had sex with men, up from 26 percent in 2012.
exist HIV prevention and treatment toolsbut not all racial and ethnic groups benefit equally from these advances, and according to estimates by the CDConly 13 percent of African Americans and 24 percent of Latinos who could benefit have been prescribed PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV.
So to talk about this story we invited one of the authors, Vanessa Sánchez, a correspondent for KFF Health News.
More details in our conversation below.
City Without Limitsthe Spanish-language project of City Limits, and El Diario de Nueva York have joined forces to create the podcast “The Diary Without Limits” to talk about Latinos and politics. To not miss any episode of our podcast “El Diario Sin Límites” follow us on Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Pódcast y Stitcher. All episodes are there. Subscribe!