Reaching Latino immigrant men through sports: A successful partnership to promote STI awareness and screening

There are approximately 19 million new Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) each year in the U.S., and Latinos have the second highest rate of syphilis (3.6 cases/100,000) in this country. Through an ongoing program (Sowing the Seeds of Health) Latino lay health promoters identified STI awareness and screening as major need among the growing Latino immigrant population in Alabama, particularly men. As such, they partnered with two organizations to reach Latino immigrant men: a Latino soccer league, and the Department of Public Health (DPH). The soccer league held three of their administrative meetings prior to tournaments at the DPH. Before their meeting, men were given a 20-minute talk by a lay health promoter, with the support of a bilingual physician, about STIs followed by questions and answers. Participants were then given the opportunity to get screened for Syphilis and HIV (N=82). Participants' age ranged from 14 to 56 (x=29), they had been in the U.S. for an average of 7 years, they completed 8.5 years of education; 62% were in a relationship, 85% didn't have health insurance, and 12% had never visited a doctor. 73% of participants got screened that day, and some returned to the clinic with their partners. This strategy not only offered education and screening but also helped to build trusting relationships between the community and health care services. This presentation will focus on the establishment of the partnership as well as strategies and lessons learned.