Trends in AIDS among Hispanics in the United States, 1991-1996

Objectives. This article describes recent trends in AIDS among US Hispanics . Methods. Incidence rates were calculated from AIDS surveillance data for pe rsons diagnosed from 1991 through 1996. Increases in the number of cases am ong Hispanics were calculated by linear regression. Results. Of the 415 864 persons diagnosed with AIDS from 1991 through 1996, 19% were Hispanic. Among Hispanics with AIDS, 67% were born in the United States or Puerto Rico. The relative risk (RR) of AIDS for Hispanics compare d with Whites was highest for women (RR = 7.0), followed by children (RR = 6.2) and men (RR = 2.8). Increases in the number of cases were higher among foreign-born Hispanics. Conclusions. An understanding of which Hispanic subgroups are at greatest r isk for HIV infection is important for prevention efforts.