The US Must Address the Rising Rates of HIV infections among Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities, Says New Analysis

WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2021)—In 2019, the U.S. rolled out a new initiative aimed at ending the HIV epidemic by the year 2030. In a new analysis published in The Lancet, Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz, an Associate Professor at the George Washington University, suggests that initiative will fail unless the U.S. addresses the rising rates of HIV infection in Latinx sexual and gender minority populations. 

Rodriguez-Diaz and his colleagues point out that while new HIV rates have stabilized for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, there has recently been a rise in rates of new HIV diagnoses in Latinx men, especially in certain parts of the country. 

“Ending the HIV epidemic in the United States is unlikely unless public health officials use specific strategies to reach Latinx gay, bisexual, and transgender populations.” Rodriguez-Diaz said. “We recommend three pathways to ending the HIV epidemic: First, tailored programming to reach the groups with increased needs; second, research should be focused on community needs, and third, we recommend using science informed frameworks and community-academic partnerships to increase the uptake of HIV interventions. With culturally relevant research and political will, the U.S. can end the HIV epidemic for all.” 

The commentary, Ending the HIV epidemic in US Latinx sexual and gender minorities, was published Feb. 19, 2021 as part of The Lancet HIV in the USA Series.

-GW-