Despite our achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data has shown that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have the highest percentage increase of HIV/AIDS diagnoses. In the five year period between 2000 and 2005, there was a 47 percent increase in new AIDS cases diagnosed among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, the largest percentage increase among all racial groups.
There are cultural, linguistic, economic and legal barriers to HIV prevention, testing, and care among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Cultural avoidance of discussing issues of sexual behavior, illness, and death can prevent Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders from obtaining life-saving information and services.