It is not surprising that Nuestras Familias Latinas are now the largest non-white ethnic group in the United States, making up an estimated 14 percent of the U.S. population. Unfortunately, it is the second highest ethnic group that has been disproportionately affected by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic.

According to the CDC, in 2002:

• Latina/os made up more than 20 percent of the new AIDS diagnosis in the U.S.
• 76,052 Latinas/os were living with AIDS
• The AIDS diagnosis rate for Latinas/os was 26 per every 100,000
• By the end of 2002, close to 88,000 Latinos had died of AIDS
• From 1999 – 2002, the number of new HIV/ AIDS diagnosis among Latinas/os increased by 26 percent.