National estimates show that Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) are not greatly affected by HIV. However, current estimates of HIV and AIDS diagnoses among NHOPI may be too low because of race/ethnicity misclassification and may mask the real impact of HIV on this population:
- The rate of HIV diagnoses per 100,000 people in the NHOPI population was more than twice as high as rates for whites in 2011.
- From 2008-2011, NHOPI ranked third in rates of HIV diagnoses by race/ethnicity in the United States, behind blacks/African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos.
- The proportion of NHOPI with late HIV diagnoses (AIDS diagnoses within one year of HIV diagnosis) in 2010 was the highest of all races/ethnicities in the United States and dependent areas. Forty five percent of NHOPI developed AIDS within 12 months after a diagnosis of HIV infection, compared with 38% of American Indians/Alaska Natives diagnosed with HIV, 36% of Hispanics/Latinos, 35% of Asians, 32% of whites, and 31% of blacks/African Americans
The Numbers
New HIV Infections
- In 2010, NHOPI accounted for less than 1% (70) of the estimated 47,500 new HIV infections in the United States and the District of Columbia.
- There was no statistically significant change in overall HIV incidence (the estimated total number of diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infections) among NHOPI from 2008 to 2010.
