HIV-Associated Stigma Persists as "Active Barrier" for Latinx Community
The National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), commemorated every October 15 since 2003 and proposed by the Latinx Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation, observes and raises awareness on increasing HIV cases for this community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, Latinx people were the second highest ethnic group with most detected cases, behind the Black race; but, in 2020, this community showed more HIV-associated stigma than any other race or ethnicity.
In Puerto Rico, stigma still permeates as well: a study from the University of Puerto Rico's Medical Science Campus, published in 2025, stated that HIV-associated stigma in the archipelago persists as an "active barrier," mostly perpetuated through verbal and non-verbal language, despite educational, awareness, and prevention campaigns. The research paper, titled “HIV-Associated Stigma in Puerto Rico: An Active Barrier that Limits Rights and Access", by Maricarmen Rodríguez González, Solaritza Rivera León, Keishla M. Torres Montalvo e Hiram V. Arroyo Acevedo, states that stigma "reproduces exclusion structures, limits implementation of public health policies, and weakens prevention efforts."
The paper highlights that terms, such as “carrier,” “AIDS patient” or “at-risk group” and phrases such as “he asked for it,” “he has AIDS” or “he is promiscuous,” in both clinical and non-clinical environments, are considered pejorative towards HIV+ people because it alludes to consequences assumed by "irresponsable" decisions. Some people have documented feeling shame, guilt, distrust, depression, and anxiety, due to these expressions. These emotions lead people to limit their search for support or treatment; they marginalize themselves and worsen their health condition.
Some recommendations from the researchers as corrective actions are incorporating not-stigmatizing language in the development of health professionals and substitute discriminatory terms for "person with HIV," "HIV diagnosis," and "high-risk sexual practices." Other practices include health professionals' training, promote environments that strengthen equality, and include HIV+ people in the validation of educational strategies.
Eradicating stigma is one of the issues addressed by Project TIES, a federal initiative of the Municipality of San Juan, through community outreach activities, educational campaigns, and other early intervention and health promotion strategies carried out by the program’s subrecipients. Once the active barrier of stigma is removed, access to prompt and effective treatment will be facilitated.
As part of NLAAD, the Manuel Díaz García Diagnostic and Treatment Center of the Municipality of San Juan and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation will offer free testing at key locations to expand the reach of this strategy. Find out where and when these subrecipients will be conducting tests in the "Where to Get Tested for HIV" section.
For more information about Project TIES and efforts aimed at expanding access to clinical and support services for people living with HIV in San Juan, visit sanjuanponefinalvih.com and subscribe on the website’s homepage.
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