Thursday, March 29, 2012
Routine HIV Testing in CT
Prior to taking on parenthood on a full-time basis, I worked in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention. I have seen many changes regarding HIV policy, treatment and prevention strategies over the past ten years. My own experience in the field of HIV prevention has taught me a great deal about health disparities. At the same time, I have also witnessed the courage and passion of people who have been committed to ending the epidemic. Needless to say, I remain committed to making a contribution to fighting the spread of HIV.
I am also concerned about HIV on a personal level. No, I am not HIV positive (in case you were wondering) but I do have a teenage son which is at higher risk for HIV simply for being Latino. Did you know that in CT, the number of estimated new infections in 2006 was 585, with Hispanics six times at higher risk than whites? Six times....but how can that be? Well there are several factors that place Latinos at higher risk which include having sex at an earlier age, low condom use, and multiple partners.
A key to helping stop the spread of the virus is testing and linking HIV positive individuals to treatment. Part of promoting testing calls for routine testing in health care settings. In CT, the consent law was revised in 2009. Having relocated to another state, I was unaware of the laws regarding HIV testing and minors. Parental consent is not a requirement to giving an HIV test to minors.
As a parent, I urge all Latino mothers and fathers to talk to your children or reach out to a community agency. We must not give up on our hijos and hijas. It is also important to lead by example, ask your doctor if an HIV test is included in your yearly exams. Each one of us should know our HIV status to have a chance at living a longer and healthier life and to protect those we love. The first step to changing anything at all is to begin talking....talking within our families, in our communities, and beyond.
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