San Francisco: More than a Safe-Sex Poster; Groups Work to Battle AIDS in Asian-Pacific Islander Community

Because the Asian and Pacific Islander community comprises more than 49 nationalities that speak more than 100 languages, targeting gay and bisexual API men takes more than a simple safe sex poster. There are cultural, linguistic, socio-economic and legal barriers to HIV prevention and care among APIs, including avoidance of issues around sexuality, substance use, illness and death. Many APIs believe that same-sex relationships are a Western phenomenon that does not exist in their communities. Foreign-born APIs may have low or no English skills, and very few programs provide interventions in API languages. Many have had negative experiences with government institutions and fear deportation.

APIs are the fastest growing population in the United States. While the number of reported AIDS cases among APIs remains small -- about 1 percent of the US total -- underreporting masks the nature of the disease among APIs. Only California, Hawaii, New Mexico and the local health departments in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, New York City and the territory of Guam report AIDS cases among APIs by ethnicity/national origin. New York City and San Francisco account for about 38 percent of total US AIDS cases among APIs.

Across the country, the majority of cases are among API immigrants and refugees. Some seroprevalence studies of gay men in San Francisco and Los Angeles have found higher rates of HIV infection in APIs than some other groups. According to the 2001 San Francisco HIV Prevention Plan, an estimated 448 APIs are living with HIV in the city, a prevalence rate of roughly 24 percent. APIs account for roughly 3 percent of the 9,000 people with AIDS in the city.

There are 299 documented male APIs living with AIDS in San Francisco -- gay or bisexual APIs make up 72 percent of that total -- according to a Department of Public Health report. One of the hardest hit groups is Filipinos, who make up 38 percent of the city's AIDS cases among APIs.

Back to other CDC news for June 7, 2002

Previous Updates | Search the CDC archive