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# National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/national_latino_aids_awareness_day_1310101006/
- Published: 2010-10-13T23:06:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:19:47.000Z
- Description: Marked each October 15, the day promotes HIV testing among Hispanics/Latinos, who made up about 15% of the US population in 2008 but 19% of people diagnosed with HIV in reporting areas. Barriers cited include poverty, migration, stigma and acculturation.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Disease, Health News, #vivvo-import

# **October 15th is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). National Latino AIDS Awareness Day provides communities with an opportunity to encourage HIV prevention, testing and treatment. This year's theme "Save A Life; It May Be Your Own" urges Hispanics/Latinos to get tested for HIV.**

## HIV and Hispanics/Latinos

The HIV epidemic continues to be a serious threat to the Hispanic/Latino community. The reasons are not directly related to race or ethnicity, but rather to some of the barriers faced by many Hispanic/Latinos including poverty (being poor), migration, stigma, and acculturation into the U.S. culture (the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group).

While Hispanics/Latinos represented approximately 15% of the United States population in 2008, they accounted for 19% of people diagnosed with HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 dependent areas with long-term confidential name-based infection reporting\*. From 2005-2008, the number of diagnoses of HIV infection increased in Hispanics/Latinos. The increase in the number of diagnoses may be due to increased HIV testing and other outreach efforts.

\* 2008 is the latest year for which surveillance information is available.

## Impact on Hispanic/Latino Communities

In 2007, HIV/AIDS was the fifth leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos aged 35–44 and the sixth leading cause of death among Hispanics/Latinos aged 25–34 in the US. In 2008, men made up 80% of all Hispanic/Latino adults and adolescents diagnosed with HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 U.S. dependent areas, the majority of whom were men who have sex with men (MSM). Using data from 2007 to model lifetime risk of HIV diagnosis, it has been estimated that at some point in life 1 in 35 Hispanic/Latino men would receive a diagnosis of HIV infection, as would 1 in 114 Hispanic/Latina women, signaling that the HIV epidemic is still a significant concern for Hispanics/Latinos.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health agencies, and Hispanic/Latino communities have increased efforts to address the effects of the epidemic. Initiated in 2003 by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with faith and community organizations, NLAAD raises awareness of issues concerning HIV/AIDS with the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States and abroad.

This year's theme, ***Save a Life; It May be your Own. Get Tested for HIV*** speaks to the critical role HIV testing and prevention education play as a result of late testing realities faced by Hispanic/Latino communities. We can promote healthy communities by facilitating partnerships, hosting community events that encourage people to seek HIV testing, counseling and treatment; and by developing and disseminating prevention strategies.

## What Hispanic/Latino Communities Can Do

**Individuals can:**

- **Learn** whether or not they are infected with HIV by getting tested
- **Seek** early medical care if they learn they are infected;
- **Protect** themselves and others from HIV through safer sex practices and not sharing needles if they inject drugs;
- **Educate** themselves and others about HIV;
- **Get involved** in their communities to help prevent HIV or provide services to those in need.

**Organizations Are Encouraged To:**

- **Promote NLAAD** within your organization. Organizations and agencies are [getting involved](http://www.nlaad.org/?ref=foodconsumer.org) in support of NLAAD across the nation. HIV awareness and testing events will provide thousands of Hispanics/Latinos with the important information they need to protect their health, their loved ones, and to get involved.
- **Encourage employees** to get involved in NLAAD activities.
- **Educate staff** about HIV/AIDS.
- **Develop** HIV/AIDS [policies for the workplace](http://www.brta-lrta.org/?ref=foodconsumer.org).

**National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Resources:**

- [National Latino AIDS Awareness Day 2010](http://www.nlaad.org/?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [HHS Office of Minority Health Resource Center: NLAAD](http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=7010&ref=foodconsumer.org)