Ethnic identity: Impact on sexual behavior among migrant workers

Background: Research suggests that ethnic identity (EI) influences health behaviors and outcomes. However, there is a dearth of research on the impact of EI change on HIV/AIDS risk. Migrant workers (MWs) have been reported as a highly vulnerable group to HIV/AIDS.

Methods: Data was used from an ongoing HIV/AIDS intervention study among minority MWs in Immokalee, Florida. Participants (N=67) were African American (33%) and Hispanic (67%). The sample was predominantly male (64%). Baseline and two follow-up data points were utilized to assess the association between short-term ethnic identity change and change in number of sexual partners across time. EI was measured by the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), a 12-item, self-report questionnaire. Chi-square tests were used to assess the association between these variables.

Results: Subjects were divided into two groups: those whose EI scores increased and those whose EI scores either decreased or did not change. Fifty-seven percent of subjects' EI scores increased across time. Seventy-three percent of African Americans' and forty-nine percent of Hispanics' EI scores increased over the two time points. Eighty-three percent of those participants whose EI scores did not increase (N= 24) were significantly more likely to have increased their number of sexual partners or made no change in their number of sexual partners (÷2= 4.73; p = 0.027; df=1,67).

Conclusion: Change in EI is associated with change in participant's number of sexual partners, which is an indication of sexual risk behavior. Programs designed to prevent HIV/STDs should attempt to increase EI throughout their designed interventions.