HIV/AIDS Statistics

Queens, NY

 

·                     Queens comprise 16% of b new HIV diagnoses

 

·                     In Queens, HIV/AIDS primarily affects people in their 30’s and 40’s.

 

·                     Western Queens has the 2nd highest number of new HIV diagnoses of all Queens(37.7).

 

·                     HIV prevalence is highest in Jamaica Queens, Western Queens, and Rockaway.

 

·                     Latinos account for 36% (second largest) proportion of new HIV diagnoses in Queens.

 

·                     Women account for 23% of new HIV diagnoses in Queens 88% of new HIV diagnoses in females are due to heterosexual sex.

 

·                     The foreign born account for 43% of new diagnoses in Queens.

 

·                     South America accounts for 30% of new HIV diagnoses among the foreign born.

 

·                     Central America accounts for 19% of the foreign born. 

 

TESTIMONY

 

Good afternoon.  My name is Nathaly Rubio-Torio; I am the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Voces Latinas. 

 

Voces Latinas is a non profit organization in Woodside Queens. Since 2003, we have been bringing the immigrant community HIV /AIDS prevention information through community forums, conferences, educational workshops and advocacy training.  Our mission is to reduce the HIV transmission rate among immigrant Latinas by empowering and providing education, training, mental health resources and advocacy services to those infected by HIV, those at risk for HIV, and those serving the Latino community.

 

The women we serve at Voces Latinas are Latinas in monogamous relationships, housewives, mothers, grandmothers, and a large part of our workforce.  Many of them are the backbone of our families. 

 

Immigrant Latinas are at even greater risk for HIV for obvious reasons, such as not speaking the language, immigration, etc.  These women leave their families, their support system, and many leave their careers, their independence, and a sense of who they are when they decide to come to this country. They experience loneliness, financial hardship, depression, a sense of vulnerability, and are forced to depend on others.  Theses series of events sets up the perfect storm for our women acquiring HIV:  they begin feeling down, sad and are unaware of the signs of depression, something very common among Latinas, but are unable to identify the symptoms.  This depression puts them in vulnerable positions and at high risk where they can experience situations such as domestic violence, and substance abuse, or a partner begins to experience alcoholism and abusive behavior against her, and infects her with HIV and she never even knows it, neither does her partner.  She begins to isolate herself even more because culturally, she is not taught to seek services such as mental health counseling, or she fears the repercussions of immigration.   This can go on for years, and never receive any treatment or support and she eventually comes to accept that this is the way her life is meant to be. Her children, family back home, and others depend on her yet she, without knowing, is letting her health go.  

 

This situation is very familiar to Voces Latinas.  We understand the concerns of immigrant Latinas and understand the many variables they have to encounter in their daily lives before even thinking about getting tested for HIV. We connect immigrant Latinas with resources such as legal assistance, housing, mental health, etc. because we understand that in order to be able to really hear the prevention messages about HIV/AIDS,  their immediate needs have to be addressed first since these are what concerns them most. We also understand the various factors that place immigrant Latinas at higher risk, such as depression, alcoholism, domestic violence, low self esteem.  .Our women are survivors and we recognize strength in each and every one of them and we tap into this strength via our support groups, educational workshops, and leadership training. 

 

We ask that you not forget the immigrant Latina when reading the HIV statistics among Latinos. Their needs and priorities are very unique and if we are going to do prevention work in this population, we need to have a solid understanding and ways of addressing the other factors that place immigrant Latinas at high risk for HIV/AIDS.

 

 

 

Thank you for your time.

PEER TESTIMONY

 

I am a Voces Latinas peer educator.  I was diagnosed HIV positive 20 years ago.

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

With much honor and humbleness in my heart, I appreciate the opportunity and privilege to bring you a message on behalf of the immigrant Latina living with and at high risk for HIV/AIDS. I represent the immigrant Latinas’ hope of a changed future of “life.” New York represents liberty, strength and opportunity. As a woman who was abused physically, mentally, the Statue of Liberty represents a free and empowered strong woman, who lives within me. 

 

On behalf of immigrant Latinas, I ask you to protect us so that we can once again be the woman that transmits strength, morals, principles and a base of sacrifice and work.

 

I’ve been in New York for 20 years living in fear about my immigrant status.  My dreams of freedom turned into a chain of sexual abuse, alcohol, depression and HIV/AIDS.  Two years ago I found Voces Latinas. They taught me that being an HIV positive immigrant Latina, I still have rights and that, YES,  I can have my dreams of liberty. 

 

Abuse still exists in 2007. HIV does exist in 2007 and the fear of asking for help for the immigrant woman does exist. 

 

It’s with your wisdom and within your hearts that I humbly ask you for help to be able to achieve what the Statue of Liberty represents to all immigrant women. 

 

Thank you for your time.