Recorded presentation

Britt Rios-Ellis, PhD¹, Rocio Leon, BS², Susan M. Enguidanos, MPH³, Elizabeth Francine Trujillo, BA², and Carlos Ugarte, MSPH². (1) Health Science, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, (562)985-1770, bellis@csulb.edu, (2) Institute for Hispanic Health, National Council of la Raza, National Council of la Raza, 1111 19th Street Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, (3) Department of Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, 101 S. First Street, Suite 1000, Long Beach, CA 91502

The National Council of La Raza, with support from the Office of Minority health, conducted a national needs assessment of Latinos with HIV and those at risk for infection. Data were collected from 322 Latinos in 14 sites across the US, including Puerto Rico. Focus groups were conducted with at-risk populations and in depth interviews were conducted with HIV positive Latinos. Analysis indicates that Latinos in the border sites of El Paso and Harlingen, Texas and San Ysidro, California were more likely to have lived in the US longer than Latinos from other sites (p.<.001), have lower incomes (p.<.0001), less education (p.<.001), a history of incarceration within previous year (p.<.001), have injected illegal drugs (p.<.048), have shared needles (p.<.01), and have had sex with an IDU (p.<.0001). Although participants demonstrated few HIV prevention behaviors, they were more likely than Latinos living in other parts of the US to have been tested for HIV (p.<0001). Latinos on the border were also more likely to have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C (p.<.03), and other infectious diseases. Qualitative findings demonstrate the impact of environmental and economic hardship on the risk of HIV infection of border dwelling Latinos. Several women residing in Mexico were found to cross the border after leaving their children at school to work as day sex workers in the US. Other HIV risk behaviors included: reluctance to use condoms; frequent sex with men regardless of self-identification as homosexual or bisexual; habitual purchase of sex; failure to disclose HIV infection or risk; sharing needles; infidelity; domestic abuse; poverty; and, the excessive economic dependence of women. Recommendations for culturally, linguistically and literacy level HIV/AIDS prevention strategies that address the unique and specific needs of Latinos and their families will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the different factors relating to HIV risk among Latino populations living on the US Mexico border when compared to Latinos in other communities.
• Define HIV risk and the impact of culture, gender and environment from within the context the daily lives of Latinos on the border.
• Identify culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV prevention strategies and recommendations from Latinos dwelling in border communities.

Keywords: Latinos, HIV/AIDS

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.

Recorded presentation