Migrant labor, acculturation and risk behaviors of HIV/AIDS positive Hispanics patients receiving HIV/AIDS care along the US - Mexico border

Researchers studying HIV/AIDS related health disparities between Hispanics and other populations in the US have suggested that observed differences could be related to factors associated with migration and acculturation such as loneliness, depression, low pay, exploitation, difficult labor, dangerous working conditions, stigma, etc. Specifically, it is argued that these factors are common to the experience of Hispanic migration in the U.S. and increase the likelihood that migrants will engage in HIV/AIDS related risk behaviors. The purpose of this study was to 1) describe HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among Hispanic PLWHA receiving medical care and residing along the U.S. –Mexico border and 2) to estimate the association between the migration and acculturation factors and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. The study population consisted of 700 Hispanic PLWH/As who were receiving primary HIV/AIDS medical services from any one of five Health HRSA, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Border Health demonstration sites. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between the socio-demographic and personal characteristics, migratory factors, acculturation and involvement in HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. Overall, study findings indicate that that homelessness, low income, and depression were found to be significantly associated with increased involvement in risk behaviors; however, these characteristics are not unique to immigrant populations but typify poor and marginalized groups in the U.S. in general. Additionally we suggest that current measures of acculturation are problematic and that future and past findings may be better understood through established theoretical frameworks in criminology and deviance.