Birthplace and the risk of AIDS among Hispanics in the United States

Abstract

To extend previous work showing that the risk of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is higher in US Hispanics than in Whites who are not Hispanic, we compared US residents born in different Latin American countries. We computed the cumulative incidence (CI) of AIDS and the distribution of cases by mode of exposure. Cases were those reported to the Centers for Disease Control between June 1, 1981 and December 12, 1988, and populations specific for birthplace were from the 1980 census. The reference group was the White population that was not Hispanic, CI 25.7/100,000. We estimated a similar rate in Mexican-born persons (25.3/100,000). In the South and West, the rate in Mexican-born Hispanics was half the reference rate. In each US region, the CI of AIDS in heterosexual intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) in Puerto Rican-born persons was several times greater than that in other Latin American-born persons. Puerto Rican-born persons were the only Latin American-born persons in whom most cases were in heterosexual IVDAs. The data suggest that resources for preventing AIDS in Hispanics are needed most in those of Puerto Rican ethnicity for AIDS related to intravenous drug abuse.