142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Immigrant Latinas' sexual and reproductive health needs, priorities, and opportunities for intervention: A qualitative assessment conducted in the southeastern United States

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Lilli Mann, MPH , Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Mario Downs , Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Amanda Tanner, PhD, MPH , Public Health Education, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Florence M. Simán, MPH , El Pueblo, Inc., Raleigh, NC
Jennifer Toller Erausquin, PhD, MPH , Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Christina J. Sun, PhD, MS , Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Scott Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES, FAAHB , Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Background: Although immigrant Latina women experience a disproportionate burden of sexual and reproductive health outcomes (e.g., cervical cancer), their utilization of health services is lower than other women in the United States (US). The study purpose was to examine immigrant Latinas’ sexual and reproductive health needs and identify strategies for potential intervention.

Methods: Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 immigrant Latinas living in North Carolina (mean age=32.7, range: 21-47 years). Interviews were conducted in Spanish and digitally recorded; themes were identified through constant comparison, an approach to grounded theory development.

Results: Participants reported that sexual and reproductive health was important and had varying levels of health knowledge (e.g., contraception and HIV/STD testing and transmission and symptoms) and experiences with healthcare systems (e.g., free clinics, insurance access, screenings, and care during pregnancy and childbirth). Participants described dynamic processes related to sexual and reproductive health, including: communication (e.g., partners and children), gendered roles in supporting health (e.g., “I think that women take it more seriously and worry more than a man”), and contingencies for healthcare (e.g., medication sharing and use of tiendas for traditional medicine). Participants provided suggestions for sexual and reproductive health interventions (e.g., lay health advisors and intergenerational programming such as mother-daughter communication and support).

Discussion: Understanding and addressing sexual and reproductive health priorities of Latinas are essential for delivery of culturally congruent services. These results can inform interventions to reduce health disparities among Latinas, particularly in regions such as the southeastern US with growing immigrant Latino communities.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the sexual and reproductive health needs of immigrant Latinas in the southeastern US. Describe suggested intervention strategies to reduce sexual and reproductive health disparities among Latinas in the southeastern US.

Keyword(s): Latinos, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am part of a team that uses a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop, implement, and evaluate sexual and reproductive health interventions with Latino populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3275.0: Sexual and reproductive health issues in the US South