National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

May 19 marks the annual National Asian and Pacific Islander (API) HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This observance day was created to raise awareness of how HIV/AIDS affects the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S.

Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) make up 4.2 percent of the U.S. population and are one of the fastest-growing ethnic/racial populations in America. Between the 1990 and 2000 censuses, the Asian American population grew by as much as 72 percent, and the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population by as much as 140 percent.

Facts on HIV & Asian/Pacific Islanders in the U.S.

Approximately 4,045 API were living with AIDS at the end of 2004 in the U.S. ¹
The number of APIs living with AIDS continues to rise, with a yearly increase of more than 10 percent over the past five years.
HIV cases have been steadily increasing in the six U.S. affiliated Pacific jurisdictions: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.
High teen pregnancy rates, high sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates, increased mobility and migration, immigration, and tourism all point to a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Pacific region, making targeted HIV prevention critical.²
AIDS cases among APIs account for less than one percent of total AIDS diagnoses since the beginning of the epidemic through 2004.
Of the total API adults and adolescents diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during 2001 through 2004, 77 percent were men and 23 percent were women. Among these men, 65 percent of HIV/ AIDS cases were among men who have sex with men. Among API women, 79 percent of HIV/AIDS diagnoses were attributed to heterosexual contact.³

Major Challenges in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS In API Communities

Cultural barriers regarding discussing sexual behavior, death, and illness can prevent the spread of useful prevention and treatment information.
There is a lack of doctors and health care providers who have appropriate linguistic and cultural competencies, creating another barrier to quality care.
Women often put their family and spouses’ health above their own, often waiting to seek services or care until they are already ill. Additionally, finding providers who are sensitive to gender and cultural issues is difficult.
APIs, particularly women, have a low rate of HIV testing overall and a high rate of anonymous testing due to a concern about the security of confidential testing.
For many immigrants, the denial of residency because of an HIV-positive status has deterred them from getting tested and accessing health services.

Sources:
¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2004, Vol. 16.
² Based upon an Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance and epidemiology division, 2003.
³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Trends in HIV/AIDS Diagnoses—33 States, 2001-2004," MMWR, Vol. 54, No. 45, Nov. 18, 2005, pp. 1149-1153.


Explore further:	National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day May 19 marks the annual National Asian and Pacific Islander (API) HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This observance day was created to raise awareness of how HIV/AIDS affects the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) make up 4.2 percent of the U.S. population and are one of the fastest-growing ethnic/racial populations in America. Between the 1990 and 2000 censuses, the Asian American population grew by as much as 72 percent, and the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population by as much as 140 percent. Facts on HIV & Asian/Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Approximately 4,045 API were living with AIDS at the end of 2004 in the U.S. ¹ The number of APIs living with AIDS continues to rise, with a yearly increase of more than 10 percent over the past five years. HIV cases have been steadily increasing in the six U.S. affiliated Pacific jurisdictions: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau. High teen pregnancy rates, high sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates, increased mobility and migration, immigration, and tourism all point to a potential HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Pacific region, making targeted HIV prevention critical.² AIDS cases among APIs account for less than one percent of total AIDS diagnoses since the beginning of the epidemic through 2004. Of the total API adults and adolescents diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during 2001 through 2004, 77 percent were men and 23 percent were women. Among these men, 65 percent of HIV/ AIDS cases were among men who have sex with men. Among API women, 79 percent of HIV/AIDS diagnoses were attributed to heterosexual contact.³ Major Challenges in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS In API Communities Cultural barriers regarding discussing sexual behavior, death, and illness can prevent the spread of useful prevention and treatment information. There is a lack of doctors and health care providers who have appropriate linguistic and cultural competencies, creating another barrier to quality care. Women often put their family and spouses’ health above their own, often waiting to seek services or care until they are already ill. Additionally, finding providers who are sensitive to gender and cultural issues is difficult. APIs, particularly women, have a low rate of HIV testing overall and a high rate of anonymous testing due to a concern about the security of confidential testing. For many immigrants, the denial of residency because of an HIV-positive status has deterred them from getting tested and accessing health services. Related Links: › What You Can Do to protect yourself from HIV › Events raising API & HIV awareness › Banyan Tree Project › Brochure on HIV/AIDS among Asian/Pacific Islanders Sources: ¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report 2004, Vol. 16. ² Based upon an Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance and epidemiology division, 2003. ³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Trends in HIV/AIDS Diagnoses—33 States, 2001-2004," MMWR, Vol. 54, No. 45, Nov. 18, 2005, pp. 1149-1153.