Oral

Hispanics/Latinos represent 15% of the US population, but accounted for 17% of all new HIV infections occurring in the United States in 2006. During the same year, the rate of new HIV infections among Hispanics/Latinos was three times that of whites. HIV/AIDS is among the leading causes of death among adult Hispanic/Latino men and women aged 35–44. Providing effective, scientifically-based interventions and tailoring effective behavioral interventions to who are at high risk for HIV infection are critical if the burden of HIV/AIDS is to be reduced in the Hispanics/Latino community. The purpose of this session is to explore how effective strategies can be better tailored for Hispanic/Latino communities. Emphasis will be placed on exploring the role of cultural identify on predicting risky behaviors, the use of computers assisted technology in educational programs targeting Hispanic/Latinos, and educational techniques directed at providers. This session is relevant to public health leaders and providers interested in exploring strategies to tailor educational programs and other services to Hispanic/Latino Communities and to leaders in academia interested in understanding the role of ethnic identity and health behaviors

Session Objectives: 1.Identify steps in the adaptation of effective theory-based HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention programs to Hispanic/Latino youth. 2.Discuss the role of positive cultural identify in influencing healthy behaviors. 3.Evaluate the utility of measures of positive ethnic identity and sense of belonging in predicting risk for HIV/AIDS. 4.Identify strategies for increasing community based HIV/AIDS testing. 5.Describe factors associated with HPV vaccine acceptability.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)