The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched REASONS/RAZONES – the newest HIV testing campaign under the CDC Act Against AIDS initiative. The bilingual campaign is the agency’s first national effort to encourage HIV testing among Latino gay and bisexual men, who are among those hardest hit by HIV in the United States. The campaign asks gay and bisexual Latinos “What’s your reason?/¿Cuál es tu razón?” for getting an HIV test through a series of campaign materials that feature men sharing their reasons for getting tested for HIV. REASONS/RAZONES uses images of family, friends, and partners to emphasize a strong sense of self, family, and community. The campaign also includes information about accessing fast, free, and confidential HIV testing. The campaign’s bold images and messages will appear in mobile and online advertising, national and local print and outdoor/transit advertising and will be the focus of a media relations effort to generate print and broadcast news stories.
Latinos are the largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority in the United States and also one of the groups most heavily affected by HIV. Latinos account for 16 percent of the population, but 21 percent of all new HIV infections. Latino gay and bisexual men account for nearly almost 1 in 4 new infections among gay and bisexual men of all races. Yet, too many Latino gay and bisexual men with HIV do not know they are infected. A recent study among gay and bisexual men in 21 American cities found that more than a third (37 percent) of Latinos living with HIV were unaware of their infection. The need for greater testing is particularly urgent among young men. CDC data show that 70 percent of HIV positive Latino gay and bisexual men between the ages of 18 and 24 do not know their status.
Population of focus: Latino gay and bisexual men
Links to resource:
- Reasons/Razones campaign website
- Press release on the CDC website
- Article on AIDS.gov
Date: 2013
Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention