Effective HIV prevention for undergraduate students at hispanic serving universities

BACKGROUND: The HIV/AIDS Partnership (“Partnership”) is a three year demonstration project working with two Hispanic Serving Institutions in South Texas to improve HIV knowledge and attitudes towards prevention among college students. In order to inform the partnership's activities, a qualitative study was conducted at both campuses to assess the best means of providing students with HIV prevention information and services.

METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted with students (n=40). Participants were recruited through flyers, list serves and campus newspapers. All participants were Latino undergraduates. The focus groups followed a semi-structured interview guide which asked students about their attitudes and beliefs about HIV and HIV prevention services. Focus groups were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis.

RESULTS: The primary finding is that students felt their culture and family inhibited them from ever seeking services that might suggest they were sexually active. As such, participants relayed multiple anecdotes containing incorrect information about HIV and their own discomfort with issues related to sexual activity. In order to reach students on Hispanic campuses, students suggested requiring human sexuality courses for incoming freshman and ensuring confidentiality at student health services by not having student employees working there.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that participants were students living apart from their parents, family and cultural ties prevented them from obtaining sexual healthcare due to fear that they will be perceived as sexually active or HIV positive. Prevention activities with Hispanic college students should address cultural barriers and ensure confidential and anonymous services as much as possible.