Alcohol, illicit drugs, and sex: Risks and behaviors of male Latino Migrant farmworkers in the Southeast - Findings from a pilot CBPR study

Background: HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) disproportionately affect US farmworkers. Little is known about sexual risk among Latino farmworkers in the rural Southeast.

Methods: We collected alcohol and drug use and HIV and STD infection behaviors among Latino migrant farmworkers living in eastern NC.

Data were collected during the 2008 summer growing season in 29 farmworker camps. Participants completed an interviewer-administered behavioral risk assessment and provided a venous blood sample tested by rapid plasma regain for syphilis antibodies.

Results: Of the 109 male participants, mean age was 37.0 (±9.1; range 19-68) years. All reported being originally from Mexico. Nearly half reported educational attainment of 6 grades or fewer. Acculturation was low. More than 93% of the participants reported being married or living as married (n=102), and of these 88% reported being unaccompanied. None reported sex with another man during the past 3 months. Knowledge of HIV and STD transmission and prevention was low.

When examining behaviors, 42% reported binge drinking 2-3 times during the past month; and 12% and 4% reported ever using marijuana and cocaine. Among those who reported sex during the past 3 months (n=25), 64% and 66.7% reported using a condom consistently during vaginal and anal sex, respectively. Nearly one-fifth of the sample reported paying a woman to have sex during the past 3 months. Two participants had a positive syphilis test.

Conclusions: An urgent need exists to increase our understanding of the HIV and STD epidemics within vulnerable communities such as Latino farmworkers.