Associations between empowering Latina women and increased condom use to prevent the spread of HIV

Latinas make up 14% of the population and yet they account for 19% of the cumulative reported AIDS cases in the United States. The purpose of this review was to evaluate empowerment interventions targeting Latina women to increase condom use. Empowerment was defined as any effort to educate Latina women promoting communication and the necessary skills to effectively negotiate condom use. A search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Pubmed databases was conducted to obtain articles published in the United States. Only studies testing interventions on Latinas currently living in the United States and published in the last ten years were included. The key words used to search databases were Latina, HIV, condom, and prevention. The results showed effective interventions were culturally sensitive, conducted by Spanish speaking Latinas, and combined knowledge with behavioral interventions, which resulted in the women feeling efficacious to negotiate condom use. Studies utilizing the social cognitive theory in addition to other strategies, found statistically significant results for self-efficacy and negotiating condom use at post-test and six months. One study found acculturation was significantly associated with sexual behaviors, however, another study found educational level was the only sociodemographic variable associated with condom use. In a post intervention interview, Latina women suggested conducting interventions and future studies on Latino men to help the women negotiate condom use. Recommendations for future research include interventions that target subgroups within the Latina population, examine interventions including Latino men, and measure results longer than one year.