Immigrant community institutions are strategically positioned to facilitate or impede public health efforts in their neighborhoods and communities because of their influence over discourse regarding values and tradition. Their authority may be particularly relevant when stigmatized or sensitive issues, such as HIV or reproductive health, are addressed. Using qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze data collected from 22 Chinese and South Asian immigrant institutions in New York City, we examine attitudes about HIV, social change and tradition to delineate the different structural roles that Asian immigrant community institutions play in relation to the preservation of traditional values and culture in their neighborhoods and communities. Implications are explored for working with immigrant community institutions to conduct HIV-related work and other stigmatized public health initiatives in immigrant neighborhoods. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

immigrants Asians Stigma place HIV Institutions

Reproduction immigrant Reproductive Medicine HIV Infections social psychology health promotion Human immunodeficiency virus infection demography social change community health worker health care personnel Stereotyping human middle aged Asia controlled study priority journal ethnology paradigm shift Human immunodeficiency virus neighborhood attitude to AIDS Residence Characteristics interview United States North America Humans social control Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female questionnaire Article Social Control, Informal adult migration New York City Reproductive Health health center local participation New York [United States] public health