National hispanic medical association partnering and communicating together - project abstracthiv/aids continues to be a significant public health challenge in the US

The annual number of new diagnoses decreased 7% from 2014 to 2018, but hispanics/latinos accounted for 27% of the new HIV diagnoses. As the largest and fastest-growing minority in the US, coupled with disproportionate rates of HIV/aids, hispanics are crucially important to prioritize in HIV prevention and care efforts, especially among MSM and transgender women. The national hispanic medical association (nhma) proposal for partnering and communicating together (categories a and b) will increase HIV awareness, reduce new HIV infections, improve health outcomes and support CDC?s let?s stop HIV together (together) campaign. The purpose of the nhma project is to maximize the effectiveness and reach of the together campaign by strategically disseminating HIV prevention digital and social media messaging and communications to the hispanic community, as well as implementing events in key U.S. Jurisdictions that focus on HIV awareness and prevention. Nhma will hold 10 events per year at the nhma annual conference and chapter forums in southern california, new york city, puerto rico, and key areas with partners to reduce new HIV infections among hispanics at highest risk, increase referrals to healthcare providers and create improved health outcomes for hispanics with HIV. Short-term outcomes include increase exposure to the CDC?s HIV campaign materials and messages and HIV-related information-seeking behaviors among hispanics disproportionately affected by HIV, with HIV and healthcare providers; and increase partner engagement. These will lead to intermediate outcomes that include increase cross-community support and favorable attitudes for and increase HIV prevention, testing, and referral strategies; increase HIV-related communication among partners, increase referrals and linkage to care among hispanics with HIV, and increase adoption of HIV screening, preventi on, and care and treatment recommendations by health care providers. The project will leverage nhma?s existing networks, organizational structures, and communication platforms using evidence-based approaches that acknowledge the diversity in the US hispanic community, including differences in media use and trust of health information sources. A mass media strategy, including ad placements and broadcasts, will be supplemented by online dissemination activities, social media strategy, email communications, tailored nhma and partner websites, updated hispanic health portal, and a virtual hispanic HIV community of practice. These strategies will be complemented by face-to-face communication and dissemination at nhma?s annual conference (including educational sessions and networking activities), local chapter forums, webinars of messaging of the together campaign. Finally, nhma will work with new partners. Nhma proposes a specific evaluation study to examine in greater depth the impact of CDC?s campaign messaging on the participants? Awareness, attitudes, and behaviors, and whether this translates into organizational and community-wide changes in their local areas. Nhma serves as the leading national resource and advocates to improve hispanic health. Nhma will bring a substantial network of community and professional organizations, a documented history of impacting policy and infrastructure for improved hispanic health, knowledge of and experience working with federal and state government agencies, and the national reach to effectively extend CDC?s national together campaign to increase HIV awareness, reduce new HIV infections and improve outcomes among hispanics.