In a recent analysis, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that while overall estimated new HIV infection rates declined by 23% from 2012 to 2022, the rate has not fallen as much for Latinos compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Latinos, constituting about 19% of the U.S. population, accounted for approximately 33% of new HIV infections in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Among gay and bisexual men, Latinos made up the largest share of new HIV diagnoses and infections in 2022. Despite this, they are experiencing a disproportionate number of new infections and diagnoses across the U.S., with the highest diagnosis rates observed in the Southeast.
Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, Director of the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, emphasized that “HIV disparities are not inevitable.” However, Latino health policy advocates are calling for the federal government to declare a public health emergency to direct more funding toward Latino communities. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Co-Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, stated, “Our invisibility is no longer tolerable.”
Fernando Hermida, a 31-year-old Venezuelan who sought asylum in the U.S., discovered he had HIV in 2022. He highlights the challenges faced by Spanish-speaking individuals in navigating the healthcare system. Hermida enrolled in a clinic funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which serves over half of those diagnosed with HIV in the country, regardless of citizenship status. However, communication with the clinic became less frequent over time, leaving him without regular interpretation assistance during visits with his English-speaking doctor.
This analysis underscores the urgent need for targeted funding and improved healthcare access to address HIV disparities among young Latinos in the United States.
See “Rising Share of New HIV Cases in Young Latinos Leads to Call for Targeted Funding” (June 26, 2024)
