New York: Area Latinos Targeted for AIDS/HIV Education

Hispanics are the fastest-growing population in the nation, and HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly among them. In New York state, more than 28 percent of HIV infections and 31 percent of AIDS cases are Hispanic. But while the Latino population in the central part of the state is booming, CDC attributes only around 10 percent of HIV/AIDS cases to Hispanics.

Advocates and health workers say a lack of HIV/AIDS testing and education in Central New York's Hispanic communities is one reason for the discrepancy.

"We believe there are more people in the Hispanic community that haven't been tested and don't know their status. We believe there's a higher incidence than we are seeing," said Rick Priebe, AIDS Community Resources' director of support services.

"We should probably be seeing closer to 15 or 18 percent [incidence]," said Priebe. "We think there's a population that we don't know about out there. Our suspicion is that most of those people don't know they are HIV-positive," he said, warning that "People who don't know they are infected are less likely to take precautions."

"There are a variety of cultural issues that prompt people not to be tested and that work against the idea of condoms," Priebe said. One such issue is machismo, which plays a large role in Hispanic cultures. A heightened sense of masculinity may dissuade some Hispanic men from identifying themselves as gay, presenting a challenge to health officials when educating people about homosexuality and safe sex.

Local health officials say they want to see more Latinos being tested for and talking about HIV, and they want leaders to emerge from the community to take up the challenge.

Back to other news for October 12, 2006