Study: HIV cases still rising in Latinx communities
Latino health advocates say there is a need for how we approach HIV care in Latinx communities
Note: This article was written by Kamila Vargas-Gonzalez and originally published on Dallas Voice on July 5, 2024. It has been partially republished here.
Experiencing unstable healthcare is not something new to West Dallas resident Javier Enriquez, especially when it comes to HIV care. The added obstacle of homophobia in his community and the fear and distrust of engaging with the system also create a harder road toward getting tested for the virus, saying, “When I first got tested, I was 25.”
Liv Mortel also experienced difficulty getting tested in the DFW suburb of Red Oak where they were raised. “[For Latine people], any sexual thing is very taboo. It’s very hush-hush,” Mortel stated. “I had to go outside of my community.”
According to the CDC, the estimated number of HIV cases in the United States had a 12 percent decrease between the years 2018 and 2022. However, in 2022, HIV diagnoses increased by 17 percent amongst Hispanic/Latinos.