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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Susan Gilbreath, PhD¹, Rebecca L. Horne, MPH², Juan Ruiz, MD, DrPH¹, and Michele Ginsberg, MD³. (1) Office of AIDS, California Department of Health Services, PO Box 997426/MS-7700, Sacramento, CA 95899, 916-449-5839, sgilbrea@dhs.ca.gov, (2) Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, MS 7700, PO Box 997426, Sacramento, CA 95899, (3) Community Epidemiology, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Department, 1700 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101

Background: Our objectives were to determine prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and examine transborder sexual relations and behavioral risk factors among Latinas at the California/Mexico border.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted from July 2003-2004 recruited 513 Latinas ages 18-35 years from San Diego (n=163) and Tijuana (n=350). Women completed interviews and provided specimens for HIV and STD testing. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the association of engaging in transborder sexual relations and exhibiting behavioral risk factors in logistic regression models adjusted for socioeconomic factors.

Results: HIV prevalence was higher in San Diego than Tijuana (4.9% versus 0.3%). Combined prevalences for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were higher among women in Tijuana (12.7%) than San Diego (5.1%). Eighty percent of women from San Diego and 8% of women in Tijuana reported ever having sex partners from across the border. Participating in transborder sexual relations was associated with receiving compensation for sex (OR=4.52, 95% CI: 2.22, 9.21), injection drug use (OR=4.50, 95% CI: 1.67, 12.16), and engaging in unprotected anal sex (OR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.39, 4.81). No differences were detected in risk behavior between study locations.

Conclusions: Prevalence of HIV and STDs detected in the study sample differed across the border although risk behaviors did not. A large proportion of women reported transborder sexual relations and these women were more likely to engage in risky behaviors, indicating a potential pathway of disease transmission across the border.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence of HIV and STDs among Latinas along the San Diego, California/Tijuana, Mexico border.
• Identify the influence of transborder sexual partners and acculturation to American society on behavioral risk factors.
• Define the most appealing prevention strategies to Latinas on either side of the border.

Keywords: Latinas, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered