Syndemic Data

Syphilis

Annual syphilis screening increased from 5.7% in 2022 to 16.3% in 2024. (source: IHS Clinical Reporting System)

HCV

Since IHS initiated hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening of the birth cohort of “baby boomers” (persons born 1945-1965), HCV screening has increased from 8% to 73% of the IHS user population. Screening of all persons over 18 years of age for HCV has reached 58%. (source: Clinical Reporting System)

HIV

• Since the 2006 recommendation to screen all persons for HIV, IHS has screened 60% of its adolescent and adult patients. (source: IHS Clinical Reporting System)
• Between 2019 and 2024, 35% of all adolescent and adult active patients in the IHS system have been tested for HIV. (source: IHS Clinical Reporting System)
• From 2016 to 2022, new diagnoses in the IHS Areas with the highest HIV burden have dropped by 23%. (source: IHS National Data Warehouse/Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention with CDC collaboration)
• The largest HIV ART programs in IHS achieved 90% viral suppression among its patients with HIV in 2024. (source: annual facility reports from ART programs)

HIV DATA

View the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  on HIV by race and ethnicity.

HIV is a public health issue among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, who represent about 1.7% of the U.S. population. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, AI/AN ranked fifth in the rate of new HIV diagnoses in 2022*, with lower rates than Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders, and people reporting multiple races, but higher rates than among Asians and Whites.

Key Statistics about HIV Among American Indian/Alaska Native People

• In 2022, there were 215 new diagnoses of HIV infection among AI/AN people.
  • The number of new diagnoses in 2022 represents an increase of 4 new diagnoses from 211 in 2021 but an increase of 49 new diagnoses from 166 in 2018.
  • Males accounted for 73.5% (158) of all new diagnoses, a decrease from 78.2% of all new HIV diagnoses in 2021 and a decrease from 82% in 2018.
  • Women accounted for 26.5% (57) of all new diagnoses, an increase of 11 cases from 46 in 2021 and from 30 diagnoses in 2018.
  • 25-34-year-olds (85 new diagnoses) and 35-44-year-olds (58 new diagnoses) together accounted for 66.5% of all new HIV diagnoses among AI/AN.
  • The primary mode of transmission among men is male-to-male sexual contact (114 new diagnoses out of 158 total diagnoses for men);
  • Among women, the primary mode of transmission is heterosexual contact (31 out of a total of 57 new diagnoses among women)
• In 2022, out of every 100 AI/AN people with diagnosed HIV, 76 persons received some care, 54 persons were retained in care, and 65 persons had achieved viral suppression – in line with the national average (graphic)1.

Disparities in HIV Experienced by American Indian/Alaska Native People

• In 2022, the rate of new HIV diagnoses among AI/AN people was 10.6 (per 100,000 population), twice the rate of 5.3 (per 100,000 population) experienced by Whites.
• Between 2018 and 2022, new HIV diagnoses among AI/AN people increased by 30%, from 166 new HIV diagnoses in 2018 to 215 new HIV diagnoses in 2022.
• In 2022, AI/AN people had the lowest level of knowledge of HIV status (77.3%) than any other racial or ethnic group.
• In 2022, the rate of diagnosis of HIV infection among AI/AN women (5.5%) is over twice as high as the rate of diagnosis among White women (1.9%).
• In 2022, AI/AN women diagnosed with HIV had the second highest percentage (46%) of HIV infections attributable to injection drug use when compared to women in other racial or ethnic groups.

HIV Diagnoses Among American Indian/Alaska Native People by Transmission Category and Sex, 2022 – United States

The terms male-to-male sexual contact (MSM) and male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (MSM/IDU) are used in CDC surveillance systems. They indicate the behaviors that transmit HIV infection, not how individuals self-identify in terms of their sexuality.