{"id":14420,"date":"2023-10-11T13:45:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T18:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swopehealth.org\/?p=14420"},"modified":"2024-02-10T04:14:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T10:14:42","slug":"bringing-awareness-to-aids-hiv-in-hispanic-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swopehealth.org\/bringing-awareness-to-aids-hiv-in-hispanic-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing Awareness to AIDS\/HIV in Hispanic Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oct. 15 is National LatinX AIDS Awareness Day<\/a>, one in a series of special awareness days promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to bring targeted information<\/a> to the Hispanic\/Latino community.<\/p>\n

Hispanic\/Latino communities are disproportionally affected by HIV. According to the CDC,<\/a> this is due to social and structural issues, including racism, HIV stigma, homophobia, poverty and limited access to healthcare.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What is HIV? <\/strong><\/p>\n

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is a virus that attacks the cells that help the body fight off infection. Left untreated, the virus can lead to AIDS (which is short for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV spreads through human contact and bodily fluids, most commonly during sex or injection drug use.<\/p>\n

There are about\u00a01.2 million people<\/a>\u00a0in the US with HIV, and more than 10 percent of them are not aware they have the virus. HIV can affect anyone, but people of color, especially\u00a0Black and Hispanic men<\/a>, continue to be disproportionally affected.<\/p>\n

There are tactics to prevent HIV, and with proper care, even if you get HIV it can be controlled. The most important first step is to get tested for HIV.<\/p>\n

\u201cSwope Health encourages all people age 15 and older to get tested,\u201d said Dr. Naiomi Jamal, Chief Health Officer. Swope Health performs HIV screening during regular physical examinations or by appointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith advances in technology, we are able to offer medication that can prevent HIV,\u201d said Dr. Jamal. Swope Health offers PrEP<\/a> medication \u2013 short for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis \u2013 which can lower your risk of getting infected.<\/p>\n

Your screening can also contribute to a\u00a0national goal<\/a>\u00a0to achieve a 90 percent reduction in new HIV infections by 2030 \u2013 to effectively end the HIV epidemic in the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis goal is achievable if we all take steps to get tested for HIV,\u201d said Dr. Jamal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Who should be tested? All of us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0U.S. Preventive Services Task Force<\/a>, an independent volunteer group of national experts in preventive medicine, has championed the guideline that all persons from 15 to 65 should be tested for HIV.<\/p>\n

The federal Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion<\/a>\u00a0also says EVERYONE age 15 to 65 should be tested at least once.<\/p>\n

And people with higher risk of infection may need to be tested more often. This is recommended if you:<\/p>\n