Pre-immigration determinants of HIV/STD Risk Behaviors among Recent Latino Immigrants to South Florida

Background: Pre-immigration determinants of sexual risk behavior for Latino immigrants are understudied. Given the high rate of immigration to the U.S. from Latin America and the continuing risk of HIV/STD transmission among the US population, research in this area is integral. Methods: Data examined are from the baseline phase of a longitudinal study and were collected 2008 -2010 from 527 participants ages 18-39 who immigrated to the U.S. within the previous 12 months. Descriptive epidemiologic methods and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for analysis. Results: Prevalence of HIV pre-immigration was 4%. During 12 months prior to immigration, 1% of participants reported exchanging sex for drugs and 3% exchanging sex for alcohol; 4.4% reported having sex under the influence of illicit drugs and 8.5% under the influence of alcohol; 2.8% reported exchanging sex for money; 40% reported having more than 1 sexual partner; and 32% of respondents with 1 sexual partner did not use condoms during vaginal sex. SEM model demonstrated adequate model fit,ײ(28,N =525) = 46.24, p= .016; CFI = .978; RMSEA = .04. Alcohol use was linked with increased high-risk sexual behavior (lower condom use, multiple sexual partners). Correlates of alcohol use were being male, single, and as annual income increased, alcohol use increased. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the importance of targeting RLIs for HIV/STD prevention efforts. When planning for behavioral interventions and HIV/STD prevention programs/policy, public health professionsals should consider that there is an association between recent Latino single male immigrants' income and higher risky sexual behaviors.