HIV/AIDS

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TOGETHER

CAN

STOP

HIV/AIDS

SPANISH

What is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Learning the basics about HIV can keep you healthy and prevent HIV transmission.

Scroll down for more information and materials about how to prevent and treat HIV.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) & Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

PrEP is a prevention method used by people who are HIV-negative and at high risk for being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use. When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing an infection.

Learn more about PrEP.

PEP is the use of antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection in an HIV-negative person who has had a specific high-risk exposure to HIV. Exposure typically occurs through sex or sharing syringes (or other injection equipment) with someone who has or might have HIV.

Exposure to HIV is a medical emergency. HIV establishes infection within 24 to 36 hours after exposure. Health care providers should evaluate persons rapidly for PEP when care is sought within 72 hours after a potential exposure.

Learn more about PEP.

HIV Prevention & Education

Knowledge of HIV risk and treatment options remains a significant barrier to preventing the spread of the disease among Latinos and helping Latinos with HIV/AIDS to stay healthy.

It’s important to know your HIV status so that you can take medication to treat HIV if you have the virus. Taking HIV medicine every day can make the viral load undetectable. People who get and keep an undetectable viral load (or remain virally suppressed) can stay healthy for many years and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their sex partner(s).

Latinos & HIV

Immigration status, poverty, migration patterns, educational levels, and language barriers may make it harder for some Hispanic/Latino people to get HIV services.

As of 2020, 29% of the new HIV diagnoses in the US were among Hispanic/Latino people.

From 2015 to 2019, HIV diagnoses remained stable among Hispanic/Latino people overall. Although trends varied for different groups of Hispanic/Latino people, HIV diagnoses declined for some groups, including Hispanic/Latina women and Hispanic/Latino youth aged 13 to 24.

In 2019, an estimated 1.2 million people in the US were living with HIV. Of those, 294,200 people were Hispanic/Latino. In 2019, an estimated 1.2 million people with HIV 87 knew their HIV status.

LEARN MORE

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Hispanic Federation has partnered with several organizations to raise awareness surrounding HIV/AIDS and educate the general public about HIV treatment and prevention, as well as other health disparities affecting Latino communities.