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Fact Sheet

HIV/AIDS and Asians & Pacific Islanders in the United States and Orange County

Click here to download the PDF version.

• The total population in Orange County is about 3 million making it the 4th most populated county in the United States and 2nd most populated county in California.
• Orange County ranks 5 among California’s 58 counties in cumulative AIDS cases reported through 2007.
• The graph to the right shows that Asian and Pacific Islanders (A&PI) make up about 16% of the total population in Orange County. Yet out of that 16%, 6% of those individuals contributed to the total number of AIDS cases in 2007.
• A&PI accounted for 6% of 2007AIDS cases, representing a 200% increase compared to the proportion of cases among A&PI prior to 2003.
• From 1981-2007 there have been a total of 7,128 cases in Orange County with 261 new AIDS cases in 2007 alone (a 10% increase from cases reported in 2006).
• By examining AIDS cases, A&PI were significantly more like to not know how they were exposed than all races combined (7.5% vs. 2.9%).
• HIV/AIDS continues to spread in communities of color, including Asians and Pacific Islanders.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that during 2004, an estimated 488 new AIDS cases were reported among A&PI, an increase of 2.1% over 2003 and of 39.4% over 2000.
• Although the numbers of individuals with HIV/AIDS is increasing, Asian cultural values of harmony and avoidance of conflict affect the disclosure experience of HIV-positive A&PI. The collectivist orientation of Asian communities means that individuals cast a reflection on the larger family making it difficult to seek testing and revealing their HIV-positive status without fear of being ostracized by their family (Schustack & Yoshioka, 2001).
• There are steps one can take to lessen the negative image HIV has in the A&PI community. By utilizing already well established individuals popular in the community HIV prevention is possible. These socially popular individuals have a highly valued reputation in their community and thus are able to influence other members in their community much easier than outsiders. (Yoshikawa et al., 2003).
• Only when appropriate steps are taken will health promotion messages and HIV intervention and prevention become successful! The Banyan Tree Project aims to decrease these barriers to increase communication around HIV/AIDS in the A&PI community as rates of HIV/AIDS in this community continue to rise.