Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108768

Rebecca J. Incledon, BA, Boston University School of Public Health, 59 South St. #3, Waltham, MA 02453, 781-254-5897, rinc@bu.edu

Objectives: As an honors thesis for my bachelor's degree, I examined AIDS as a social issue in the Latino population of Reading, a small city in southeastern Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 census, Latinos comprise over 37% of Reading's residents. Methods: I used archival data from the Reading Eagle Newspaper and data from the local census bureau. I also conducted interviews with representatives of social service agencies, the local school district, and Reading's police department; most of the informants are Latino. Results: The structure of Reading, specifically with regard to its Latino population, intersects with the unique nature of AIDS in adverse ways. Reading's Latinos are highly segregated, and census data indicate a negative correlation between Latino population and median household income. While certain aspects of Latino culture can be protective, such as tightly knit communities, others (i.e. traditional gender roles, homophobia, and conservative religious institutions) make agencies' AIDS prevention efforts more challenging. Conclusions: Social service agencies in Reading can enhance HIV/AIDS services for the Latino community in the following ways: inter-organization collaboration, addressing the needs of gay Latinos, and establishing a legal needle exchange program.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify factors that put Latinos in an urban center at increased risk for contracting HIV.
• Discuss factors that cause Latinos in Reading, Pennsylvania to comprise a subculture apart from the general population.
• Describe ways that social services can improve their AIDS-related services for Latinos.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.