Latino Immigrants with HIV face late access to pharmaceutical drugs & treatments.

As World AIDS Day approaches on December 1, 2006, commemorating the thousands that have died of AIDS in the last 25 years, the Latino Coalition Against AIDS, a broad coalition of Latino political, government and community leaders, calls on policymakers, the health industry and community leaders to address the growing concerns of HIV infected immigrants and the potential barriers to effective drug treatments and prevention programs that have been successful in delaying the onset of AIDS for other communities.

The recent study indicates that late detection of HIV for Latino immigrants is not only commonplace, but also postpones potential access to vital antiretroviral treatments. The study also reveals factors such as a general lack of knowledge regarding HIV risk, poor understanding of condom use and social stigma that contributes to late detection and screening.

“California needs a major ‘course correction’ in the war against AIDS as the growing epidemic is impacting Latinos, including immigrants, who represent the highest number of AIDS cases reported in Los Angeles and the second highest of any community statewide,” said Castulo de la Rocha, J.D., President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services. “Latinos often face a late diagnosis and delayed access to needed drug treatments. Adequate language specific public education is needed for our Latino communities and we need to change the status quo to prevent the spread of HIV among all communities. We call on healthcare providers statewide and the drug companies to understand the need for prevention and screening programs for this community and make significant changes to their outreach efforts.” AIDS disproportionately affects the Latino communities in the U.S.

Nationally, Latinos account for 14 percent of the population but 20 percent of the AIDS infections. In Los Angeles County, the percentage rises to a staggering 47 percent of new AIDS cases. AIDS is the leading cause of death for male Latinos 24-44 in the United States and the second leading cause of death for Latinas 24-44.

In California, the most common form of transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is through male-to-male sexual contact. Many Latino men who have sex with men do not self-identify as gay and therefore may reject prevention messages targeted to openly gay men. They may also be reluctant to access health services for fear of being perceived as being gay. Women most commonly contract HIV through sex with an infected man.

Service providers report that economic, education, religion, issues of social stigma and immigration status contribute to increased HIV infection rates among Latinos. “It is obvious that Spanish speaking Latinos do not benefit from prevention and treatment messages available in the mainstream media and health service industries,” said Luis Lopez, coordinator of the Latino Coalition Against AIDS. “We need more investment and better focused HIV outreach and education efforts directed to Spanish speaking communities to reduce hidden risk behavior and increase access to health services.”

The study, sponsored by the University of California’s Universitywide AIDS Research Program, found that immigrant patients are missing out on drug therapy and other prevention efforts that decrease transmission.

Immigrant status along with language barriers presents an added vulnerability leading to a lack of understanding about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

The Latino Coalition on AIDS was formed in Los Angeles in 2004 and encompasses a broad group of local Latino political, government and community leaders. With funding from the Los Angeles County Office of AIDS programs and Policy and other private sources, the coalition addresses the increasing rates of HIV infection among Latinos.