Journal of the National Medical Association
Volume 98, Issue 4, 2006, Pages 564-573

Preventing HIV infection among young immigrant Latino men: Results from focus groups using community-based participatory research (Article)

Rhodes S.D.* , Hergenrather K.C. , Wilkin A. , Alegría-Ortega J. , Montano J.
  • a Section on Social Sciences and Health Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, Maya Angelou Research Center on Minority Health, United States, Section on Social Sciences and Health Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, United States
  • b Department of Counseling/Human and Organizational Studies, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
  • c Section on Infectious Diseases and Infectious Diseases Specialty Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d [Affiliation not available]
  • e Chatham Social Health Council, Siler City, NC, United States

Abstract

Latinos in the United States have been disproportionately affected by the intersecting epidemics of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to problem identification and exploration, a total of 74 Latino men (mean age 22.3, range 18-37) residing in an urban city in northwest North Carolina participated in one of eight focus groups on sexual health. Among the findings of this study, >75% of participants reported Mexico as their country of origin; other participants reported being from Central and South American countries. Qualitative data analysis identified 13 themes, which were grouped into the following three domains: 1) psychosocial factors identified as influencing sexual risk health behaviors; 2) system-level barriers to sexual health; and 3) characteristics of potentially effective HIV prevention intervention approaches. The study findings suggest that community-based, male-centered interpersonal networks that provide individual and group education and skill-building and incorporate curanderos (Latino healers) and bilingual experts may be important elements of potentially effective intervention approaches to reach Latino men, who have been inaccessible to conventional HIV prevention programs.

Author Keywords

HIV/AIDS Men's health Sexually transmitted diseases Latinos

Index Keywords

urban population immigrant social psychology HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection Community Health Services Latin American medicine community program human Health Behavior North Carolina priority journal Central America Hispanic Americans Residence Characteristics sexually transmitted disease United States Humans Hispanic Adolescent male South America Risk Factors qualitative analysis Article infection prevention major clinical study adult health care access patient participation Emigration and Immigration Focus Groups
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33645656237&partnerID=40&md5=334f7e1fe3172e7c457d1f56543a6bb9
ISSN: 00279684
Cited by: 43
Original Language: English