Key Facts of HIV/AIDS

Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and HIV/AIDS – As the largest minority group in the U.S., Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. In 2006, Hispanics comprised 15% of the U.S. population or 44.3 million people,[1] yet represented 18% of the HIV/AIDS cases that same year, among 33 states with a name-based reporting, excluding Puerto Rico.[2] Among Hispanics/Latinos, males had a higher AIDS rate (per 100,000) of 31.3, than females, 9.5.[3]

Hispanic/Latina Women and HIV/AIDS – For Hispanic/Latina women living with HIV/AIDS, the most common methods of HIV transmission are: 1) high-risk heterosexual contact and 2) injection drug use (IDU).[4]In 2005, the majority of Latinas living with HIV/AIDS were infected through heterosexual contact—approximately 70% of Latinas.[5]

Hispanic/Latino Men who have sex with men (MSM) – For Latino men living with HIV, the most common mode of transmission is sexual contact with another man. At the end of 2005, 57% of all Hispanics living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S reported male-to-male sexual contact as the transmission category, compared to 49% among Blacks and 77% among non-Hispanic Whites. 

Hispanics/Latinos, Drug Use, and HIV/AIDS - Communities of Color in the U.S. are most heavily affected by AIDS associated with substance use. At the end of 2006 in 33 states with confidential name-based reporting, 14,427 male adult or adolescent Hispanics living with HIV/AIDS became infected through injecting drugs with HIV contaminated needles, representing 23% of Hispanic males living with HIV/AIDS.

Hispanic/Latino Youth and HIV/AIDS – Hispanic/Latino adolescents in the U.S. face unique obstacles that help account for their disproportionately high rate of HIV infection. Hispanic/Latino teens aged 13-19 accounted for 19% of AIDS cases among U.S. teens in 2006 although they represented 17% of the U.S. teen population that same year.[6]