March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—an annual observance that highlights the impact of HIV/AIDS on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 20% of HIV-infected people in the United States do not know that they are infected; however, among American Indians and Alaska Natives the figure is closer to 25%. Compared to members of other ethnic or racial groups, American Indians and Alaska Natives who receive a diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS have one of the shortest survival times. This may be due to HIV infections diagnosed late in the course of the disease or limited access to health care. Visit our National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day page [en español] to learn how the HIV/AIDS epidemic is affecting native communities.