HIV Prevetion Drug A Hard Sell Among Gay Latinos

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HIV prevention pills are a hard sell among gay Latinos, NPR Health reports.

According to the CDC 1 in 36 Latino men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime.

In 2012 Truvada a “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” was approved by the FDA as a prevention pill against HIV– when taken correctly it can reduce the risk by more than 90 percent.

The drug, which blocks the virus from spreading in the body can cost up to $1,300 a month.

But, although most insurances and Medicaid programs; and also  local governments cover part of the price for uninsured residents, experts believe the high price tag and cultural stigmas surrounding gay sex could be  major factors in Latinos not signing up for Truvada.

“Even for people who have heard about it, [these concerns make] them reluctant to use, or hesitant to even inquire about, it,” says Phillip Schnarrs, assistant professor of health promotion at the University of Texas at San Antonio and research director for the Austin PrEP Access Project told NPR Health.

According to Schnarrs only 58 percent of Gay Latinos see themselves as good candidates for Truvada compared to 82 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Many community health workers believe more needs to be done to inform young gay Latinos about preventive options such as Truvada as well as provide more sex education in Latino communities