National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), which helps to increase awareness of the devastating and disproportionate effects of HIV/AIDS in the Latino community. Started by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation, in partnership with a variety of faith and community organizations, this observance day provides Latino communities with an opportunity to encourage HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a serious threat to the Hispanic/Latino community. While this community only makes up about 14% of the U.S. population, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 18% of the HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2005 in 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting. Further, there are cultural and behavioral differences within the Hispanic population that can affect prevention planning. For example, HIV transmission categories among Hispanics have been shown to vary by place of birth. During 2001-2005, HIV infection through male-to-male sexual contact was more common among Hispanics born in the United States, South America, Cuba, and Mexico than among Hispanics born in Central America and the Dominican Republic, who had a larger proportion of infections attributed to high-risk heterosexual contact.

Because the US Hispanic/Latino population is expected to triple from 2000 to 2050, HIV/AIDS prevention is an issue that needs to be continually addressed in this population. Taking into account the differing risk behaviors of different subgroups of Hispanics is an important consideration in developing prevention programs.

Visit the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day* Web site (en Español).

Additional Resources from CDC

HIV/AIDS among Hispanics/Latinos fact sheet
(VIH/SIDA entre los hispanos o latinos hojas informativas)

Podcast: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
Dr. Ken Dominguez discusses the significance of this awareness day and why HIV continues to pose a major threat to the health and well-being of Latinos in the United States.

Webcast: Current Challenges and Successes in HIV Prevention with Hispanics/Latinos
This Webcast will raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on Hispanics/Latinos.

HIV/AIDS Among Hispanics — United States, 2001-2005 (MMWR, October 12, 2007)
 

VIH/SIDA en español
CDC has translated several HIV/AIDS publications, Web pages, and other resources into the Spanish language.

National HIV Testing Database
Find an HIV test site near you from the National HIV Testing Database, a CDC-sponsored service available 24 hours a day.

Dia Nacional Latino para la Concientizacion del SIDA
This page is available in Spanish through CDC en Español