The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39937

Mark C. Edberg, PhD¹, Frank Y. Wong, PhD², Royce JungHyun Park², Kristen Corey, MA³, Vilay Chaleunrath⁴, Emilie G. Dearing, MSN², and Peter Hartsock⁵. (1) Dept. of Pevention and Community Health, The George Washington U School of Public Health, Bethesda, DC, 202-530-2330, Medberg@gwu.edu, (2) Center for Health Services Research and Policy, The George Washington University, 2021 K. St., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 22180, (3) Development Services Group, Inc, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 700-E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (4) The Newcomer's Community Service Center, 1628 16th Street, Suite 306, Washington, DC 20009, (5) NIDA CAMCODA, National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Blvd., room 5181, Rockville, MD 20857

This paper presents preliminary findings of an ongoing, first-ever NIH-funded study using a quantitative-qualitative design to assess the extent/nature of substance use/abuse and HIV risk among the growing Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese communities in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Phase One utilizes qualitative methods to obtain formative data on: risk patterns and related, culturally-specific factors; high-risk sub-groups; and specific terminologies and approaches pertaining to such risks -- towards developing the quantitative instrument to be used in Phase Two. Phase Three involves further in-depth interviews. Four high-risk HIV domains have been identified thus far: (1) Sex workers in “coffee shops,” restaurants, clubs, and in private residences. The sex trade appears to be organized across U.S. urban locations with high concentrations of specific Southeast Asian populations, with some circulation of sex workers between these locations; (2) Regular travel to the home country among younger/middle-aged immigrants is more frequent than suspected. The greater purchasing power of their American incomes provides disposable monies for risks such as commercial sex while traveling to and from their home countries; (3) MSM activities occur in a primarily ungrounded network; (4) Among some specific sub-populations (e.g., Amerasians), there are higher risk levels due to social marginalization. HIV risk practices are discussed using culturally-specific terminologies. Some examples: in Vietnamese coffee shops, a distinction is made between simply drinking a beer or coffee and drinking-with-girl, the latter called “bia ôm.” Younger Cambodians may mimic mainstream American HIV risk patterns, and use distinctly Americanized expressions, such as “raw-dogging” for unprotected sex.

Learning Objectives:

• The research will provide important pilot data on substance use/abuse and HIV risk in these populations, which can serve to guide both further research and prevention/intervention efforts that will be more appropriately targeted to the needs of the study populations.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.