HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV weakens your immune system, which makes it hard for your body to fight off other health problems that it could normally resist. As time goes on, your body becomes less capable of fighting off diseases. Even though males account for the largest proportion (81%) of AIDS cases reported among Hispanic Americans/Latinos in the United States, the number of cases among females is rising. Females represent 19% of all AIDS cases among Hispanic Americans/Latinos, but account for 23% of cases reported in 2000 alone. And the rate of HIV infection is seven times higher in Hispanic American/Latina women than in White women. For the largest proportion (47%) of adult and adolescent Hispanic American/Latina women with AIDS, heterosexual contact (mostly with injection drug users) is the cause for their disease. Injection drug use accounts for an additional 40% of AIDS cases among Hispanic American/Latina women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking these steps to protect yourself:

• If you are sexually active (having oral, anal, or vaginal sex), use latex condoms to reduce your chances of getting HIV.
• Drug users who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs should use new, sterile syringes to prepare and inject drugs.
• If you are getting a tattoo or having your body pierced, ask what procedures they use to prevent the spread of HIV.