CDC H IV/A IDS Fact Sheet

HIV/AIDS among

Asians and Pacific

Islanders

1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

In English, en Español

24 Hours/Day

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv 

April 2006

Asians and Pacific Islanders account for 

approximately 1% of the total number of HIV/

AIDS cases in the United States. However, in 

recent years, the number of AIDS diagnoses in this 

group has increased steadily. The Asian and Pacific 

Islander population in the United States is also 

growing [1].

STATISTICS

HIV/AIDS in 2004

At the end of 2004, less than 1% of the estimated 

462,792 persons living with HIV infection 

or AIDS in the 35 areas with long-term, 

confidential name-based HIV reporting* were 

Asians and Pacific Islanders [2].

In these 35 areas, an estimated 394 Asian and 

Pacific Islander adults and adolescents were 

given a diagnosis during 2004 [2].

At the end of 2004, 2,765 Asians and Pacific 

Islanders were living with HIV/AIDS in the 35 

areas with long-term, confidential name-based 

HIV reporting. At the time of diagnosis, 77% 

were men, 22% were women, and 1% were 

children [2].

The numbers of HIV/AIDS cases may be larger 

than reported because of underreporting or 

misclassification of Asians and Pacific Islanders.

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•

Race/ethnicity of persons (including 

children) with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 

2004

Note. Based on data from 35 areas with long-term, 

confidential name-based HIV reporting.

Transmission categories for Asian and 

Pacific Islander adults and adolescents 

with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 2001–2004

Note. Based on data from 33 states with long-term, 

confidential name-based HIV reporting.

Source. CDC. Trends in HIV/AIDS diagnoses—33 states, 

*See box before the References section for a list of the 35 2001–2004. MMWR 2005;54:1149–1153.

areas.
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H IV/A IDS among AS IANS AND PAC IF IC ISLANDERS

AIDS in 2004

Of the estimated 486 Asians and Pacific 

Islanders who received an AIDS diagnosis in 

2004, 392 (81%) were men and 92 (19%) were 

women. One child (under the age of 13) received 

a diagnosis of AIDS. [2].

The rate of AIDS diagnosis, by race/ethnicity, 

was lowest for Asians and Pacific Islanders (4.4 

per 100,000 adults and adolescents) [2].

An estimated 4,045 Asians and Pacific Islanders 

were living with AIDS, representing less than 

1% of the total 415,193 people living with AIDS 

in the United States [2].

The estimated number of AIDS cases diagnosed 

among Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United 

States increased from 350 in 2000 to 488 in 2004 

[2].

From the beginning of the epidemic through 

2004, an estimated 7,317 Asians and Pacific 

Islanders were given a diagnosis of AIDS.

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•

•

•

•

Of persons given a diagnosis of AIDS during 

1996–2004, 81% of Asians and Pacific Islanders 

were alive 9 years after diagnosis, compared 

with 74% of whites, 72% of Hispanics, 65% of 

American Indians and Alaska Natives, and 64% 

of African Americans [2].

Transmission categories for Asians and •

Pacific Islander adults and adolescents 

with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 

2001–2004 (cont.)

Note. Based on data from 33 states with long-term, 

confidential name-based HIV reporting.

Source. CDC. Trends in HIV/AIDS diagnoses—33 states, 

2001–2004. MMWR 2005;54:1149–1153.

Note. Based on data from 35 areas with long-term, 

confidential name-based HIV reporting.

Race/ethnicity of persons (including 

children) living with HIV/AIDS, 2004
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H IV/A IDS among AS IANS AND PAC IF IC ISLANDERS

RISK Factors AND BARRIERS 

TO PREVENTION

Race and ethnicity are not, by themselves, risk 

factors for HIV infection. However, Asians and 

Pacific Islanders are likely to face challenges 

associated with the risk for HIV infection, 

including the following.

Sexual Risk Factors

Although Asians and Pacific Islanders account 

for approximately 1% of AIDS cases reported 

nationally, subgroups in some metropolitan areas 

may be at high risk for HIV infection. In a study 

of 503 Asian and Pacific Islander men who have 

sex with men (MSM), aged 18–29 years, in San 

Francisco, the overall HIV prevalence was nearly 

3%. Being of Thai ethnicity, having been born 

in the United States, being older, or having ever 

attended a circuit party or special MSM social 

event was associated with HIV infection. Of these 

503 men, 48% reported having had unprotected 

anal intercourse during the past 6 months [3]. Also, 

the rates of sexually transmitted infections among 

these men were high [4].

Additionally, HIV testing rates for this population 

may not reflect risk behaviors. Data from an HIV 

testing survey in Seattle indicated that 90% of the 

Asians and Pacific Islanders surveyed perceived 

themselves at some risk for HIV infection, yet only 

47% had been tested during the past year [5].

Substance Use

According to a study of Filipino American 

methamphetamine users in the San Francisco 

Bay Area, methamphetamine use was strongly 

associated with behavioral risk factors for 

HIV infection, including infrequent condom 

use, commercial sex activity, and low rates 

of HIV testing [6]. In a study of young Asian 

and Pacific Islander MSM, more than half 

used “party drugs,” including MDMA (3,4- 

methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or “ecstasy”), 

inhaled nitrites, hallucinogens, crack, and 

amphetamines. The use of drugs or alcohol was 

associated with unprotected anal intercourse [7].

Cultural and Socioeconomic 

Diversity

Among Asians and Pacific Islanders, there 

are many nationalities—Chinese, Filipinos, 

Koreans, Hawaiians, Indians, Japanese, Samoans, 

Vietnamese, and others—and more than 100 

languages and dialects. The subgroups differ in 

language, culture, and history. Because many 

are foreign-born, they may experience cultural 

and language barriers to receiving public health 

messages. As a group, Asians and Pacific Islanders 

represent both extremes of socioeconomic and 

health issues. For example, although more than 

a million Asian Americans live at or below the 

federal poverty level, Asian American women have 

the longest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic 

group. Tailoring prevention interventions to meet 

the needs of this culturally and socioeconomically 

diverse population remains challenging [8].

Limited Use of Services

Because of language and cultural barriers, lack 

of access to care, and other issues, many Asians 

and Pacific Islanders underuse health care and 

prevention services. A study of the use of HIV 

services by 653 Asians and Pacific Islanders 

showed that a relatively high proportion had 

advanced disease and used hospital-based 

services. Few of them, however, used HIV 

case management services, housing assistance, 

substance use treatment, or health education 

services [9].

Prevention

Among all people in the United States, the annual 

number of new HIV infections declined from 

a peak of more than 150,000 in the mid-1980s 

and has stabilized at approximately 40,000 cases 

annually since the late 1990s. Populations of 

minority races/ethnicities are disproportionately 

affected by the HIV epidemic. To reduce further 
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H IV/A IDS among AS IANS AND PAC IF IC ISLANDERS

the incidence of HIV, CDC announced a new 

initiative, Advancing HIV Prevention 

(http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/prev_prog/AHP), 

in 2003. This initiative comprises 4 strategies: 

making HIV testing a routine part of medical care, 

implementing new models for diagnosing HIV 

infections outside medical settings, preventing new 

infections by working with HIV-infected persons 

and their partners, and further decreasing perinatal 

HIV transmission.

In the United States, Asians and Pacific Islanders 

are emerging as a group that is at risk for HIV 

infection. CDC’s Minority AIDS Initiative 

(http://www.cdc.gov/programs/hiv08.htm) 

explores ways to reduce disparities in communities 

made up of persons of minority races/ethnicities 

who are at high risk for HIV infection. CDC 

provides funds to community-based organizations 

that focus primarily on Asians and Pacific 

Islanders and provides indirect funding through 

state, territorial, and local health departments to 

organizations serving this population. An example 

of CDC-funded projects focused on the Asian and 

Pacific Islander population include an organization 

in New York City that provides client services, 

education, training, and technical assistance to 

MSM who are at high risk, female and transgender 

sex workers, and female sex partners of men who 

are HIV-positive or at high risk for HIV infection.

Understanding HIV and AIDS Data

AIDS surveillance: Through a uniform system, CDC 

receives reports of AIDS cases from all US states and 

territories. Since the beginning of the epidemic, these 

data have been used to monitor trends because they 

are representative of all areas. The data are statistically 

adjusted for reporting delays and for the redistribution 

of cases initially reported without risk factors. As treatment has become more available, trends in new AIDS 

diagnoses no longer accurately represent trends in new 

HIV infections; these data now represent persons who 

are tested late in the course of HIV infection, who have 

limited access to care, or in whom treatment has failed.

HIV surveillance: Monitoring trends in the HIV 

epidemic today requires collecting information on HIV 

cases that have not progressed to AIDS. Areas with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting requirements use the same uniform system for data collection 

on HIV cases as for AIDS cases. A total of 35 areas—

the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and 33 states (Alabama, 

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, 

Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New 

Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, North 

Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, 

Wisconsin, and Wyoming)—have collected these data 

for at least 5 years, providing sufficient data to monitor HIV trends and to estimate risk behaviors for HIV 

infection. Recently, 9 additional areas have begun confidential name-based HIV surveillance, and data from 

these areas will be included in coming years.

HIV/AIDS: This term includes persons with a diagnosis of HIV infection (not AIDS), a diagnosis of HIV 

infection and a later diagnosis of AIDS, or concurrent 

diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS.

REFERENCES

United States Bureau of the Census. The Asian 

population: 2000. Census 2000 Brief. Available at 

http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-16.pdf. 

Accessed November 7, 2005.

CDC. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2004. Vol. 16. 

Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, 

CDC: 2005:1–46. Also available at http://www.cdc.gov/

hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/2004report. 

Accessed April 3, 2006.

Choi K, McFarland W, Neilands TB, et al. Low HIV 

prevalence but high sexual risk among young AsianAmerican men who have sex with men: HIV prevention 

opportunities. XIV International Conference on AIDS; 

July 2002; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract MoPeC3434.

1.

2.

3.

McFarland W, Chen S, Weide D, Kohn R, Klausner J. 

Gay Asian men in San Francisco follow the international 

trend: increases in rates of unprotected anal intercourse 

and sexually transmitted diseases, 1999–2002. AIDS 

Education and Prevention 2004;16:13–18.

Kahle EM, Freedman MS, Buskin SE. HIV risks and 

testing behavior among Asians and Pacific Islanders: 

results of the HIV Testing Survey, 2002–2003. Journal 

of the National Medical Association 2005;97:13S–18S.

Nemoto T, Operario D, Soma T. Risk behaviors of 

Filipino methamphetamine users in San Francisco: 

implications for prevention and treatment of drug use 

and HIV. Public Health Reports 2002;117(suppl 1):

S30–S38.

4.

5.

6.
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H IV/A IDS among AS IANS AND PAC IF IC ISLANDERS

For more information . . . 

CDC HIV/AIDS

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv

CDC HIV/AIDS resources

CDC-INFO

1-800-232-4636

Information about personal risk and where to 

get an HIV test

CDC National HIV Testing Resources

http://www.hivtest.org

Location of HIV testing sites

CDC National Prevention Information 

Network (NPIN)

1-800-458-5231

http://www.cdcnpin.org

CDC resources, technical assistance, and 

publications

AIDSinfo

1-800-448-0440

http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

Resources on HIV/AIDS treatment and 

clinical trials

Choi K, McFarland W, Chu PL, et al. Heavy “party” 

drug and polydrug use and associated sexual risk for 

HIV among young Asian men who have sex with men. 

XIV International Conference on AIDS; July 2002; 

Barcelona, Spain. Abstract E10725.

CDC, Office of Minority Health. Asian American 

populations. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/omh/

7.

8.

Populations/AsianAm/AsianAm.htm. Accessed April 3, 

2006.

Pounds MB, Conviser R, Ashman JJ, Bourassa V. Ryan 

White CARE Act service use by Asian/Pacific Islanders 

and other clients in three California metropolitan 

areas (1997–1998). Journal of Community Health 

2002;27:403–417.

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