HIV Prevention Strategies for Latino Youth: The Role of Cultural Moderators
Objective: Inner-city Latino adolescents are at high risk of sexually transmitted HIV infection. While it has been long been assumed that aspects of Latino culture affects HIV risk and protective behavior, few studies have examined this relationship. In addition, there are few studies that have examined whether theory-based culture-based interventions can reduce Latino adolescents' HIV risk-associated sexual behavior. The purpose of this study is to determine whether cultural moderators, Latino ethnicity, acculturation, generational distance, gender-roles, familialism, and religiosity moderate intervention effects on sexual behavior outcomes (condom use and sexual intercourse.
Design: Randomized control trial
Sample: The sample consisted of 643 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 years. There were 532 Latino adolescents (83%) of which 148 (23%) were Spanish-dominant speakers. There were nearly equal percentages of males (45%) and females (55%) n=532).
Setting: Recruitment of adolescents took place in Philadelphia schools and community settings with the highest concentration of Latinos. Intervention and follow-up sessions were held in 3 different high schools in the Latino community.
Years: Data collection occurred in years 2000-2002. Intervention: Latino youth were randomly assigned to: (a) a theory-based HIV risk-reduction intervention culturally tailored for inner-city Latino adolescents; or (b) a general health promotion control intervention that focuses on other behavior-linked diseases that impact Latinos. The theoretical basis for the study and intervention was the Theory of Reasoned Action, Planned Behavior, and Social Cognitive Theory. The cultural concepts of gender-roles and familialism were central to the design and testing of the intervention. These concepts in addition to Latino ethnicity, acculturation, generational distance, and religiosity were conceptualized as moderators variables.
Method: Hierarchical mixed-model analyses
Outcome Variables: Self-reported HIV risk and protective sexual behavior (sexual intercourse and condom use)
Conclusion: Data are currently being analyzed.
Implications: Results of this study have implications for understanding the role of culture in influencing HIV risk and protective behavior and in designing effective interventions to reduce sexually transmitted HIV infection.
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