Anti-HIV Pill Not a Hit Among Latinos; Why?

The anti-HIV pill is not making strides among gay or bisexual Latino men, despite the efforts of health workers. According to WIVB 4, Truvada, which is also known as PrEP, was approved by the FDA back in 2012.

PrEP can prevent HIV due to its ability to block the enzyme that the virus needs to replicate, thereby preventing it from spreading throughout the body. However, it has remained unpopular in the Latino community, states PBS. 

Currently, AltaMed health clinics and the Latino Commission on Aids are trying to spread awareness about the pill, but there is still a lot of work to be done. 

Jesse Hinostroza, an HIV prevention specialist working with AltaMed, explained that part of the reason Truvada remains unpopular in the Latino community is that they have no prior education about the pill. 

News about the pill has not spread enough throughout the Latino community. In fact, some doctors are still unaware that the pill exists. 

Gustavo Morales, director of access to care services for the Latino Commission on Aids, said he visited two different doctors, who did not know even know about Truvada, after deciding to take the pill.

Other than lack of knowledge, there is another, possibly even greater, barrier that Truvada advocates have to face in the Latino Community: culture and religion. 

In the Latin culture, there is still a stigma against gays or bisexuals, resulting in a lot of men hiding their true gender. Being unable to truly be themselves has also prevented them from openly discussing their healthcare needs with a physician. 

One such man was Louise Arevalo, 27, a college student and AltaMed patient. Arevalo found it very difficult to come out to his mother. 

"It's just part of the culture, and it's the religion," Arevalo said. He explained on WSKG that his mother's pastor deemed homosexuality as a sin. 

There are also economic reasons as to why the pill remains unpopular amongst gay or bisexual Latino men, reports the Daily Beast. Truvada is very expensive, costing up to $1,300 a month. 

Most insurance companies and Medicaid programs cover the treatment. In addition, local governments have started covering Truvada payments for uninsured residents.

However, despite efforts to lower the price of the pill, it would seem that the cost is still too high. Professor Robert Grant from the UC San Francisco School of Medicine explained that the pill might not be worth the price to some people.

While Truvada proves extremely effective in decreasing the risk of HIV infection, it does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases. The pill also requires daily consumption, which might be a hassle to certain patients. 

Moreover, certain side effects are tied to taking the pill, like kidney problems, which could turn off prospective patients. 

"It is a very valuable option, but it is only one option. Condoms are still [a] very important part of a sexual health strategy," Grant said.