HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Referral to Providers Among Hispanic/Latino Persons - United States, 2019

Abstract

Hispanic or Latino* (Hispanic) persons are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. In 2019, Hispanic persons accounted for 18% of the U.S. population, but for 29% of new diagnoses of HIV infection (1). The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative aims to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030 (2). Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medication taken to prevent acquisition of HIV, is an effective strategy for preventing HIV infection.^† To examine PrEP awareness and referral to providers among Hispanic persons, CDC analyzed 2019 National HIV Prevention Program Monitoring and Evaluation HIV testing data. Approximately one quarter (27%) of Hispanic persons tested for HIV at CDC-funded sites (n = 310,954) were aware of PrEP, and 22% of those who received a negative HIV test result and were eligible for referral (111,644) were referred to PrEP providers. PrEP awareness and referrals among Hispanic persons were lower compared with those among non-Hispanic White persons. Among Hispanic persons, significant differences were found in PrEP awareness and referrals by age, gender, race, population group, geographic region, and test setting. HIV testing programs can expand PrEP services for Hispanic persons by implementing culturally and linguistically appropriate strategies that routinize PrEP education and referral, collaborating with health care and other providers, and addressing social and structural barriers.

FIGURE

Preexposure prophylaxis awareness and referral to preexposure prophylaxis providers, by race and ethnicity — United States, 2019^, Abbreviation: PrEP = preexposure prophylaxis. * Black, White, and persons of other races were non-Hispanic; Hispanic persons could be of any race. ^† Valid HIV tests for this analysis include tests for which a test result (i.e., positive or negative) was known and had a nonmissing value for PrEP awareness and referral. ^§ PrEP awareness among persons tested for HIV infection was defined by an affirmative response documented by HIV test providers to the question, “Has the client ever heard of PrEP?” PrEP referral among persons eligible for referral was defined by an affirmative response documented by HIV test providers to the question, “Was the client given a referral to a PrEP provider?” This analysis excluded HIV tests with missing values on PrEP awareness and referral to a PrEP provider.