We Can Stop HIV One Conversation at a Time [Podemos Detener el VIH Una Conversación a la Vez]

Multi-channel, bilingual marketing integrates radio and cable TV public service announcements (PSAs), online and mobile phone ad banners, social media, public relations, national advertising in People en Español, national and local partnerships, and local community engagement programming.

Hundreds of Hispanics/Latinos from across the country and key Hispanic/Latino community organisations were engaged by CDC to help in the development of the campaign. The Hispanic/Latino men and women seen in the campaign's videos, posters, and other materials are from culturally diverse backgrounds and help to highlight the facts and messages that can prompt open conversations about HIV and AIDS across the Hispanic/Latino community. Campaign resources, including a dedicated campaign website (in English and Spanish), provide facts and practical tools and tips to help families and friends begin or continue conversations about HIV prevention, awareness, testing, and treatment. People are encouraged to ownload and distribute bilingual campaign materials such as posters, palm cards, and brochures from our campaign website. Digital banner ads are also available for download and use for placement on any website or social media channel. To spark online conversations about HIV and AIDS, people may use the hashtag #OneConversation and follow the Twitter account @TalkHIV.

For example, one section of the website provides detailed instructions for those wishing to host local community discussion forums to inform, inspire, and model effective conversations about HIV/AIDS for Hispanics/Latinos at the local level. During each event forum, attendees will be encouraged to openly share ideas for normalising conversations about HIV/AIDS and breaking through cultural barriers in their community that challenge HIV prevention efforts. There have been official "Real Talk" events hosted in communities across the country - particularly communities that are most impacted by HIV - but anyone can host such an event using the guidance available on this website. For example, event organisers could stream 4 short episodes of the Sin Vergüenza, an online telenovela series produced by AltaMed that features a Mexican-American family and friends modeling and addressing difficult discussions that Hispanics/Latinos may have about HIV, with a focus on how to overcome barriers of talking about HIV. These short episodes are often a good way to spark discussion at the event.

Along those lines, campaign partners have committed to communicating HIV facts and resources throughout their individual networks. A diverse group of regional, community-based organisations have also been engaged and empowered to mobilise local, Hispanic/Latino communities, particularly those that are underserved, high-risk, and/or hard to reach.

HIV/AIDS

More than 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the US, and about 50,000 people become infected each year. In 2013, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for almost one-quarter of all estimated new diagnoses of HIV infection in the US and 6 dependent areas, despite representing about 17% of the total US population.

One Conversation at a Time is part of Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), a 6-year partnership between CDC and leading national organizations representing the populations hardest hit by HIV.

The One Conversation at a Time campaign is just one resource to help stop HIV among Hispanics/Latinos. Each year, the Hispanic/Latino community is reminded about HIV and AIDS through National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, observed annually on October 15th.