What Is HIV/AIDS

What Is HIV/AIDS—and How Does It Affect Latinxs?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that weakens your immune system over time. If untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), which makes it harder for your body to fight off infections.

HIV is spread through:

• Unprotected sex
• Sharing needles or syringes
• From mother to baby during birth or breastfeeding (less common today with treatment)
• Blood transfusions (extremely rare in the U.S.)
  

Here’s why we need to talk about it:

Latinx people make up over 25% of new HIV cases in the U.S., despite being only about 19% of the population. And for Latino gay and bisexual men, the numbers are even higher.

Barriers like stigma, language, lack of access to healthcare, and fear of immigration status can stop people from getting tested or treated. And that’s a serious issue—because early detection saves lives.