National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (May 19, 2023)

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NAPIHAAD Promo Image National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (May 19)

May 19th is National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. According to AIDSVu, the rate of viral suppression among Asian people in the U.S. (68%), is higher than the national average (65%). Today, we recognize the impact of social determinants of health and cultural factors such as stigma, language barriers, and discrimination as challenges to HIV treatment and prevention. Let’s work to combat stigma and increase HIV screening, prevention, and treatment services among API communities.

Pacific-AETC Resources

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HIV Learning Network – Culturally-Based Programs to Improve Engagement and Health Outcomes: Addressing Stigma for Native Hawaiian with HIV

Learn more with the HIV Learning Network’s Culturally-Based Programs to Improve Engagement and Health Outcomes: Addressing Stigma for Native Hawaiian with HIV. This presentation was giving on April 23 @ Noon (Pacific) by Malulani Orton, Native Hawaiian Medical Case Manager, Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center.

HIVLN – Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders with HIV

This presentation was giving on April 23 @ Noon (Pacific): Culturally-Based Programs to Improve Engagement and Health Outcomes: Addressing Stigma for Native Hawaiian with HIV, by Malulani Orton, Native Hawaiian Medical Case Manager, Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center.

Social Determinants of Health and HIV among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people:

Social determinants of health among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people.

Although Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) account for a very small percentage of new HIV diagnoses in the United States (US) and dependent areas, HIV affects NHOPI in ways that are not always apparent because of their small population size. In 2018, NHOPI made up 0.2% of the US population. Check out this CDC page to get the latest data on HIV among NHOPI, learn about the prevention challenges that some face, and discover the progress being made.

Through direct, on-site training, and multi-platform distance learning methods, Pacific AETC-HIAPI bridges the enormous distances of the region to strengthen HIV clinical care, testing, and prevention efforts for native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

CDC Resources on HIV among NHOPI communities:

Infographic: New HIV Diagnoses Among NHOPI in the US and Dependent Areas by Sex and Transmission Category, 2018

HIV Diagnoses Among NHOPI in the US and Dependent Areas, 2014-2018

There are several challenges that place some NHOPI at higher risk for HIV: Socioeconomic issues. Poverty, inadequate or no health care coverage, language barriers, and lower educational attainment may make it harder for some NHOPI to get HIV testing and care. icon of stop sign with stigma text Cultural factors. NHOPI cultural customs, such as not talking about sex across generations, may stigmatize sexuality in general and homosexuality specifically. This could result in lower use of HIV prevention methods like condoms. icon of a tablet Limited research. With limited research about NHOPI health and HIV, creating targeted HIV prevention programs and behavioral interventions for this population can be challenging. icon of computer monitor with magnifying glass Data limitations. The reported number of HIV cases among NHOPI may not reflect the true HIV diagnoses in this population because of race/ethnicity misidentification. This could lead to an underestimation of HIV infection in this population.