Nationally, HIV diagnoses declined nearly 20 percent, although progress has been uneven. Diagnoses among Latina women and white women declined steadily over the past decade (35 percent and 30 percent, respectively). Although, there have been increases among HIV diagnoses for Latino men who are gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
A new study detailing diagnoses and the prevalence of HIV among Latinos in the United States tells how the disease has risen among men who have sex with men and details the rates of infections among Latino millennials.
A decrease in HIV infection ocurred among Latinos overall between 2008-2013 -- dropping from 28.3 per 100,000 population to 24.3 per 100,000 population 41.3 percent per 100,000 -- and the highest rate of diagnoses occurred among 25-34 years old, which was 40.1 percent, according to Dr. Kenneth Dominguez, a Medical Epidemiologist with the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD & TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produced a report confirming that new diagnosis of HIV infection has risen sharply among Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), despite overall declines in infections among U.S. Latinos during the same period.
The PrEP pill has proven to be a vital and successful tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS, helping to protect thousands upon thousands against the deadly virus. However, does the anti-HIV medication promote risky sexual behaviors and the disuse of condoms?
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis, and PrEP is a powerful daily pill option for those who are at high risk of contracting HIV. No, PrEP is not a cure or a vaccine, but PrEP is a meaningful tool that can provide a high level of protection against HIV, and it's far more effective when combine with other prevention tools such as condoms.
When there was a need for an HIV prevention program, leadership direction, and LGBTQ fellowship for the youth in the South Bronx and Western Queens, the Latino Youth in Action was created - and it stepped up to the plate.