Unique aspects of the care of HIV-positive latino patients living in the United States

Abstract

Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV, with a higher risk of infection and a delayed presentation to care as compared to non-Hispanic whites. Over the last decade many Latinos, especially foreign-born migrants, have settled in regions of the country with historically low Latino representation. Therefore, clinicians who care for HIV-infected patients are likely to encounter Latino patients, regardless of their practice location. Providing optimal care to this population may be especially challenging for clinicians practicing in areas of newer Latino expansion, where culturally appropriate services may be sparse. In this article, we argue that an understanding of the HIV epidemic among Latinos requires an appreciation of the diversity and heterogeneity of the Latino population in the United States. We also review unique clinical aspects of HIV care among Latinos, including manifestation of coinfections with pathogens endemic in Latin America but rare in the United States. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.