1 in 6 Hispanics/Latinos with HIV are unaware they have it.
Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County and the HIV/AIDS Prevention Committee of Ohio Region 9 recognize National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), October 15, 2020.
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) (or El Dia Nacional de Concientizacion Latina del SIDA in Spanish) was created by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in 2003. The main objective of this day, is to raise public awareness of the HIV epidemic in the Hispanic/ Latino communities in the USA.
HIV continues to be a serious threat to the health of Hispanic/Latino communities. According to the Ohio Department of Health, in 2019, there were 53 Hispanics/Latinos reported living with diagnosed HIV infection in Montgomery County, OH. Also, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 6 Hispanics/Latinos with HIV are unaware they have it. People who do not know they have HIV cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment and may unknowingly pass HIV to others.
Other issues that may put some Hispanics/Latinos at higher risk for HIV infection include:
- Having higher rates of some sexually transmitted infections (STI) than other races/ethnicities. (Having another STI can increase a person’s chance of getting or transmitting HIV).
- Poverty, migration patterns, lower educational level, and language barriers may make it harder to get HIV testing and care.
- Not using HIV prevention services, get an HIV test, or get treatment if they have HIV due to fear of disclosing their immigration status.
- Some experience high levels of mistrust of the health care system. (Lower levels of trust can reduce the likelihood of clinic visits and result in lower use of and adherence to antiretroviral medications).
- Stigma, fear, discrimination, and homophobia may impact the lives of some Hispanics/Latinos.
The 2020 theme for NLAAD is “Living with HIV or not... we're in this together”. It focuses on the tools available to address HIV in our communities and the elimination of HIV-related stigma. However, reducing stigma begins with you! Get Educated and Get Tested!
Find out if you are at risk for HIV and get tested. Below is a list of local HIV testing sites:
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Testing Sites |
Testing Hours |
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Clark County Combined Health District Reproductive Health Clinic 529 East Home Road Springfield, OH 45503 (937) 390-5600 |
Call for testing hours and information |
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Equitas Health 15 W. Fourth Street, Suite 200 Dayton, OH 45402 (937) 461-2437 |
Call for testing hours and information |
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Greene County Public Health 360 Wilson Drive Xenia, OH 45385 (937) 374-5621 |
Call for testing hours and information
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Miami County Public Health Reproductive Health Clinic 510 W. Water Street Troy, OH 45373 (937) 573-3520 |
Call for testing hours and information
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Preble County Public Health Reproductive Health Clinic 615 Hillcrest Drive Eaton, OH 45320 (937) 472-0087 |
Call for testing hours and information |
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Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health Clinic 117 S. Main Street Dayton, OH 45422 (937) 225-4550
Public Health Outreach Office 201 Riverside Drive, Suite 1-C Dayton, OH 45405 (937) 496-7133
Dr. Charles R, Drew Health Center 1323 W. Third Street, Room # 608 Dayton, OH 45402 (937) 225-4023 |
Call for testing hours and information |
Resource:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV and Hispanics/Latinos, 2020. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/hispaniclatinos/index.html. Accessed September 10, 2020.
- Ohio Department of Health. Montgomery County HIV Surveillance Diagnoses of HIV Infection Reported in Montgomery County, June 2020. Available at:
https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/e6f3f4e7-51e1-44fe-a509-896137884116/Montgomery2019.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_M1HGGIK0N0JO00QO9DDDDM3000-e6f3f4e7-51e1-44fe-a509-896137884116-nfopD9j. Accessed September 11, 2020.
