HIV Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States

HIV is a public health issue among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs), who represent about 1.2%^a of the U.S. population. Overall, diagnosed HIV infections among AIs/ANs are proportional to their population size. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, AIs/ANs ranked fifth in rates of HIV diagnoses in 2015, with a lower rate than blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos,^b Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders, and people reporting multiple races, but a higher rate than Asians and whites.

The Numbers

HIV and AIDS Diagnoses^c

• Of the 39,513 HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2015, 1% (209) were among AIs/ANs. Of those, 73% (152) were men and 26% (55) were women.
• Of the 152 HIV diagnoses among AI/AN men in 2015, most (79%; 120) were among gay and bisexual men.^d
• Most of the 55 HIV diagnoses among AI/AN women in 2015 were attributed to heterosexual contact (73%; 40).
• From 2005 to 2014, the annual number of HIV diagnoses increased 19% (from 172 to 205) among AIs/ANs overall and 63% among AI/AN gay and bisexual men (from 81 to 132).
• In 2015, 96 AIs/ANs were diagnosed with AIDS. Of them, 59% (57) were men and 41% (39) were women.

Living With HIV and Deaths

• Of the 3,600 AIs/ANs estimated to be living with HIV in 2013, 18% (630) were undiagnosed. By comparison, 13% of everyone living with HIV were undiagnosed.
• Of AIs/ANs diagnosed with HIV in 2014, 78% were linked to medical care within 1 month.^e
• At the end of 2013, 53% of AIs/ANs who had been living with diagnosed HIV for at least a year were retained in care (receiving continuous HIV medical care), and 52% had achieved viral suppression.
• During 2014, 51 AIs/ANs died from HIV or AIDS.

Prevention Challenges

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). From 2011 to 2015, AIs/ANs had the second highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea among all racial/ethnic groups. Having another STD increases a person’s risk for getting or transmitting HIV.
• Lack of awareness of HIV status. Almost 1 in 5 AIs/ANs who were living with HIV at the end of 2013 were unaware of their status. People who do not know they have HIV cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment and may unknowingly pass HIV to others.
• Stigma. AI/AN gay and bisexual men may face culturally based stigma and confidentiality concerns that could limit opportunities for education and HIV testing, especially among those who live in rural communities or on reservations.
• Cultural diversity. There are over 560 federally recognized AI/AN tribes, whose members speak over 170 languages. Because each tribe has its own culture, beliefs, and practices, creating culturally appropriate prevention programs for each group can be challenging.
• Socioeconomic issues. Poverty, including limited access to high-quality housing, directly and indirectly increases the risk for HIV infection and affects the health of people living with and at risk for HIV infection. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, AIs/ANs have higher poverty rates, have completed fewer years of education, are younger, are less likely to be employed, and have lower rates of health insurance coverage.
• Alcohol and illicit drug use. Alcohol and substance use can impair judgment and lead to behaviors that increase the risk of HIV. Injection drug use can directly increase the risk of HIV through sharing contaminated needles, syringes, and other equipment. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, AIs/ANs tend to use alcohol and drugs at a younger age and use them more often and in higher quantities.
• Data limitations. Racial misidentification of AIs/ANs may lead to the undercounting of this population in HIV surveillance systems and may contribute to the underfunding of targeted services for AI/AN.

What CDC Is Doing

CDC and its partners are pursuing a high-impact prevention approach to advance the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, maximize the effectiveness of current HIV prevention methods, and improve HIV data collection among AI/AN. Activities include:

• Working with the Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal leaders of the CDC Tribal Consultation Advisory Committee to discuss methods for developing and implementing scalable, effective prevention approaches that reach those at greatest risk for HIV, including young gay and bisexual AI/AN men.
• Providing support and technical assistance to health departments and community-based organizations to deliver effective prevention interventions.
• Ensuring that capacity-building assistance providers incorporate cultural competency, linguistics, and educational appropriateness into all services delivered.
• Providing capacity building assistance directly to the IHS so it can strengthen its support for HIV activities, including HIV testing capacity; We R Native, a comprehensive health resource for Native youth; and the Red Talon Project, which works to achieve a more coordinated national and Northwest tribal response to STDs/HIV.
• Collaborating with National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors to release an issue brief, Native Gay Men and Two Spirit People: HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Programs and Services.
• Raising awareness through the Act Against AIDS campaigns, including
  • Doing It, a national HIV testing and prevention campaign that encourages all adults to get tested for HIV and know their status;
  • Let’s Stop HIV Together, which raises HIV awareness and fights stigma among all Americans and provides many stories about people living with HIV; and
  • HIV Treatment Works, which highlights how men and women who are living with HIV have overcome barriers. The campaign provides resources and encourages people living with HIV to Get In Care, Stay In Care, and Live Well.

In addition, the Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (OSTLTS) serves as the primary link between CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, and tribal governments. OSTLTS’s tribal support activities are focused on fulfilling CDC’s supportive role in ensuring that AI/AN communities receive public health services that keep them safe and healthy.

^a Percentage of AI/AN reporting only one race.
^b Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
^c HIV and AIDS diagnoses indicate when a person is diagnosed with HIV infection or AIDS, but do not indicate when the person was infected.
^d The term gay and bisexual men, referred to as men who have sex with men in CDC surveillance systems, indicates how individuals self-identify in terms of their sexuality, not a behavior that transmits HIV infection.
^eIn 32 states and the District of Columbia (the areas with complete lab reporting by December 2015).