National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

October 15 is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, a day to bring attention to how HIV affects the health and well-being of Latinx persons who live in Texas.

DSHS estimates that a Latinx Texan acquires a new HIV infection about every five hours. Latinx Texans made up more than 2 out of 5 Texans with new HIV infections in 2018.

In 2018, 31,643 Latinx persons were living with diagnosed HIV, making up about a third of all Texans living with diagnosed HIV. But DSHS estimates that there are an additional 10,000 Latinx Texans with HIV who do not know it. This means 1 in 4 Latinx Texans living with HIV do not know their status. To end the HIV epidemic, we need at least 90% of people with HIV to know their status.

Between 2010 and 2018, the number of Latinx Texans diagnosed with HIV increased almost every year. Latinx Texans were the only race/ethnic group to show consistent increases. The increases are driven by new diagnoses in people under the age of 35 and in gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

HIV has a disproportionate impact on Latinx MSM. The rate of Latinx MSM living with HIV is almost 30 times higher than the overall rate for Texas. [1] DSHS estimates that 1 in 11 Latinx MSM is living with diagnosed HIV.

1 in 3 Texans who acquired HIV in 2018

2 out of 5 Texans with undiagnosed HIV

3 out of 4 of all Latinx Texans living with diagnosed HIV

For people living with HIV, treatment is the key to a long, healthy life.   People with HIV who take medicines regularly can reduce the amount of HIV in their bodies to very low levels. This is also called having a suppressed viral load.   Having a suppressed viral load improves the health and wellbeing of people with HIV. It also means they cannot transmit HIV to others through sex.   Finding ways to make getting and staying in treatment easier for Latinx Texans will lead to better health and a decrease in Texans with HIV.

For people living with HIV, treatment is the key to a long, healthy life. People with HIV who take medicines regularly can reduce the amount of HIV in their bodies to very low levels. This is also called having a suppressed viral load. Having a suppressed viral load improves the health and wellbeing of people with HIV. It also means they cannot transmit HIV to others through sex. Finding ways to make getting and staying in treatment easier for Latinx Texans will lead to better health and a decrease in Texans with HIV.

These are not ordinary times, but you, your friends, and loved ones can still get PrEP, HIV testing, and treatment. PrEP is a highly effective way to prevent HIV. It is a prescription medicine that when taken regularly can prevent HIV from taking hold in the body. It is recommended for people at high risk of getting HIV, especially MSM. DSHS estimates that only a small percent of Latinx MSM who could benefit from PrEP are using it. Find out more at the DSHS PrEP page. Use the DSHS HIV/STD services directory to find out how and where to get these services If you need help affording your HIV treatment medications, the Texas HIV Medication Program may be able to help. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about getting a test or finding treatment.

1. Rates allow direct comparison of the impact of HIV on groups of different size and are used to show health disparities. The rate here is the number of people with HIV for every 100,000 members of a group.