Reproductive and sexual health care for Latino men in rural Oregon: Providers' experiences and perceptions

Latino migrants to the United States are increasingly settling in regions of the country that have not traditionally seen migrants, including rural communities in the Northwest. Nationwide, Latinos are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy and HIV/STIs. Little is known, however, about the sexual and reproductive health of these new migrants. Migrants to these communities tend to be young, male, non-English speakers, with minimal education, who may be at increased risk for sexual health problems that rural communities are ill equipped to address. The goal of this study was to better understand how to deliver sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) to this population. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 29 health care practitioners employed by publicly-funded family planning clinics who provide SRHS to Latino males in rural Oregon. Using content analyses, we examined providers' perspectives on factors influencing the use of SRHS by Latino men and strategies for increasing capacity to effectively serve this population. Providers identified multiple factors they perceived to negatively impact men's use of SRHS, including men's lack of accurate knowledge, discomfort discussing sexual health, and denial and fear of health problems; clinics' lack of resources, the need for additional outreach services, a shortage of male and Spanish speaking providers, and clinic access. Providers supported the inclusion of Latino men in SRHS and recommended strategies for increasing capacity including innovative outreach approaches, improving provider fluency in Spanish, and offering services in a culturally appropriate manner. Additional findings and implications for services and policies will be discussed.