Protective HIV risk behaviors: Predictors of condom carrying behavior among Migrant Workers

Background: Migrant workers (MWs) have been reported as a highly vulnerable group with regard to HIV/AIDS. Previous research has primarily focused on risk factors of HIV; however, it is important to attain a deeper understanding on characteristics that influence protective HIV risk behaviors. Methods: Baseline data was used from an ongoing HIV/AIDS intervention study among minority MWs in Florida. The participants (N=258) were African American (48%) and Hispanic (52%) and 73% were English speakers. Using data from HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Questionnaire, sexual risk behavior index, called Vaginal Episode Equivalent (VEE), was created to quantify participants' sexual behaviors. Other independent variables included in the full binary logistic model were number of partners, HIV knowledge, behavioral intentions, language, and gender. A binary logistic regression was performed to predict whether subjects carried condoms or not. The relationship of these independent variables to a protective HIV risk behavior in migrant workers was explored. Results: The significant predictors of subjects carrying a condom were VEE (Wald ÷ 2=4.198, p=0.040), behavioral intention to use a condom (Wald ÷ 2=18.280, p<0.001), number of partners (Wald ÷ 2= 4.116, p=0.042), language (Wald ÷ 2=5.234, p=0.022), and HIV knowledge (Wald ÷ 2 =6.018, p = 0.014). Conclusion: English speaking participants with lower HIV risk, HIV knowledge, had intentions to use condoms, and had a high number of partners were more likely to carry a condom with them. Such conclusions assist in creating HIV prevention interventions that target these variables that have been specified as predictors of this protective behavior.