News

New Study Shows Stigma Bars Access to HIV Services in Vietnamese and Filipino Communities in Santa Clara County 

San Francisco, CA – On May 18, 2007, Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) Wellness Center and the A&PI Santa Clara HIV County Collaborative will release a community-based research study that shows HIV-related attitudes of discrimination and stigma among Filipinos and Vietnamese living in Santa Clara County.  The study, called “Filling the Gaps,” will be released during a commemorative event for the 3rd Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  Please join Supervisor Liz Kniss, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and other community leaders for this important event, at the James P. McEntee Senior Plaza, Santa Clara County Adm. Building (70 West Hedding Street, in San Jose), on Friday May 18, 2007 between 11am-2pm.  The event is free and everyone in the community is encouraged to attend. 

In recent years, HIV cases have more than doubled among A&PIs in Santa Clara County. Yet despite the increase of HIV cases, the study shows that among Filipinos and Vietnamese, factors such as stigma, misinformation, and lack of community dialogue continue to limit access to and utilization of HIV health services. In general, there are few services and programs that address the cultural and linguistic needs of these communities, particularly around sexual health issues. 

The study also reveals that community members continue to correlate HIV with prostitution and/or being gay.  According to a Filipino community member interviewed in the study, "[With HIV], it’s hard to tell because there is a negative connotation associated with sexual orientation and AIDS and also because people aren’t talking about it.  There is a fear of stepping forward, so you can’t accurately estimate how big of a problem it is…I’ve heard comments like ‘It’s a disease in the gay community; it doesn’t impact us'."  Nationally, Filipinos have the highest rate of HIV in the A&PI community, accounting for 33% of HIV cases among A&PIs.

A&PI Wellness Center’s mission is to educate, support, empower and advocate for A&PI communities, particularly A&PIs living with, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS. In 2007, A&PI Wellness Center celebrates 20 years of providing a culturally competent focus on sexual health for Bay Area A&PI communities.  With three sites in San Francisco, Daly City and Oakland, and a staff fluent in 20 languages, A&PI Wellness Center delivers programs regionally, statewide, and nationally, and collaborates with community-based organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific Region.

For press materials or more information about this event go to www.apiwellness.org  or contact Juan Acosta at (415) 292-3420 ext 327 or juan@apiwellness.org.  An electronic copy of the full report "Filling the Gaps" is available at www.apiflare.org.