Resource Center is committed to decreasing the rate of HIV and STIs in our community. More than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and almost one in five (18.1%) are unaware of their infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Moreover, people who have STIs are more likely to get HIV, when compared to people who do not have STIs. STI and HIV Fact Sheet from the CDC
In 2013, in the United States, gay and bisexual men accounted for 81% (30,689) of the 37,887 estimated HIV diagnoses among all males aged 13 years and older and 65% of the 47,352 estimated diagnoses among all persons receiving an HIV diagnosis that year. In 2013, gay and bisexual men accounted for 55% of the estimated number of persons diagnosed with AIDS among all adults and adolescents in the United States. Of the estimated 14,611 gay and bisexual men diagnosed with AIDS, 40% were blacks/African Americans; 32% were whites; and 23% were Hispanics/Latinos. (Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, CDC HIV/AIDS, 2015).
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the face of HIV in Texas is increasingly young, Black or Hispanic, and male. The vast majority of new infections and diagnoses occur in gay or other men who have sex with men (MSM). For the past 10 years, the rate of new diagnoses in young persons, especially young MSM of color, has increased compared to other demographic groups. In some Texas cities, 20% of Black MSM are already infected with the HIV virus. (Texas HIV Epidemiologic Profile, updated Dec. 1, 2015).
A trending topic in HIV prevention today is about pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. PrEP is a way to help prevent HIV by taking a pill every day. People who are at substantial risk for HIV should talk to their doctor about PrEP. PrEP must be taken every day to be most effective. If your doctor is not familiar with PrEP, he or she can call the CDC PrEPLine at 855-448-7737 (toll-free) which provides expert guidance to clinicians about prescribing PrEP. If you would like more information, see CDC PrEP Info.
STI and HIV Fact Sheet from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/stdfact-std-hiv.htm
CDC HIV/AIDS https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html
CDC PrEP Info https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/prep/