AIDS and Behavior
Volume 21, Issue 12, 2017, Pages 3607-3617

Social Support Networks and HIV/STI Risk Behaviors Among Latino Immigrants in a New Receiving Environment (Article)

Althoff M.D. , Theall K. , Schmidt N. , Hembling J. , Gebrekristos H.T. , Thompson M.M. , Muth S.Q. , Friedman S.R. , Kissinger P.*
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St. SL-18, New Orleans, LA, United States, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • b Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • c Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St. SL-18, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • d Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St. SL-18, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • f Department of Planning and Urban Studies, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • g Quintus-ential SolutionsCO, United States
  • h National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, New York, NY, United States
  • i Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St. SL-18, New Orleans, LA, United States

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe the quantity and quality of social support networks of Latino immigrants living in a new receiving environment, and (2) determine the role such networks play in their HIV/STI risk behaviors, including substance use. Double incentivized convenience sampling was used to collect egocentric social support network data on 144 Latino immigrants. Latent class analysis was used for data reduction and to identify items best suited to measure quality and quantity of social support. Moderate and high quantity and quality of social support were protective of HIV/STI sexual risk behavior compared to low quantity and quality of support, after adjustment for gender, years in New Orleans and residing with family. Neither measure of social support was associated with binge drinking. The findings suggest that increased quantity and quality of social support decrease HIV/STI sexual risk behaviors but do not influence binge drinking. Interventions that improve the quantity and quality of social support are needed for Latino immigrants. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

HIV/STI risk behaviors Social support Latent class analysis Substance use Latino immigrants

Index Keywords

binge drinking immigrant HIV Infections transmission sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection convenience sample New Orleans human middle aged Substance-Related Disorders Humans Health Surveys social support nonhuman drug dependence ethnology Human immunodeficiency virus Hispanic Americans sexually transmitted disease Cross-Sectional Studies Sexually Transmitted Diseases Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant family Hispanic Adolescent Louisiana male Emigrants and Immigrants psychology female risk factor substance use Risk Factors high risk behavior Risk-Taking adult gender human experiment health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85025452660&doi=10.1007%2fs10461-017-1849-8&partnerID=40&md5=f2c630b53672b9d768386d94149a631d
DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1849-8
ISSN: 10907165
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English