HIV Rates Among Young Latino Men In The US Are Soaring: Why It’s Happening And How To Protect Yourself
According to a recent report by the Associated Press, young Latino men are facing a growing risk of HIV infection in the United States. Despite overall declines in HIV transmission rates from 2012 to 2022, this demographic accounted for nearly 33% of new HIV infections, while only making up 19% of the US population.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified young Latino men as the most at-risk group for HIV infection. In 2022, states like Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina witnessed the highest rates of new diagnoses among Latinos. Shockingly, South Carolina has funding for only four community health workers focused on HIV outreach, some of whom are not bilingual, leaving Spanish-speaking Latinos cut off from crucial healthcare resources.
Public health advocates are calling for a redistribution of federal funding to prioritise HIV prevention, including access to testing and pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP). PrEP is a medication that significantly reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission. However, only 4% of the nearly $30 billion in federal funding for HIV healthcare has been allocated to prevention efforts.
“There are no specific campaigns just among Latino people,” said Dr Michelle Taylor, health department director in Shelby County, Tennessee, where the Latino HIV diagnosis rate rose 86% from 2012 to 2022.
The cost of PrEP in the United States is significantly higher compared to other countries. According to The Body, PrEP costs as little as $8 per month in Australia, where a 2016 scale-up program led to a 25% drop in new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in New South Wales. In the United Kingdom, PrEP is considered cost-effective for high-risk MSM, even at a price of nearly $500 per month. However, in the US, PrEP costs between $1,600 and $2,000 per month, making it less accessible.
To address this, advocates suggest targeted outreach efforts at churches, training bilingual HIV testers, and conducting testing at clubs on Latin nights. These initiatives could help decrease new HIV infections in Latino communities and ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to protect their health.
As Dr Robyn Neblett Fanfair, director of the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, stated, “HIV disparities are not inevitable.” It is crucial that we take action now to address this growing disparity and provide the necessary support and resources to young Latino men at risk of HIV infection.
