HIV-related risk behavior among Hispanic immigrant men in a population-based household survey in low-income neighborhoods of northern California.
OBJECTIVE
We compared risk behaviors and HIV testing between recent (in the U.S. <5 years) and established (in the U.S. >5 years) Hispanic immigrant men (N = 410).


METHODS
This study was a population-based, cross-sectional survey of HIV/sexually transmitted disease markers and risk behaviors in men age 18 to 35 years residing in low-income census block groups in 3 northern California counties.


RESULTS
Recent immigrants were less likely to currently have a main sexual partner (45.3% vs. 67.2%, P <0.01) and more likely to have ever used commercial sex workers (40.0% vs. 27.6%, P <0.01). Recent immigrants were less likely to receive medical care in the last 6 months (21.2% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.04) or had ever been HIV tested (26.0% vs. 43.3%, P <0.01). Established immigrants more likely reported unprotected sex, hallucinogen or ecstasy use.


CONCLUSIONS
Recent Hispanic immigrants have less stable sexual partnerships and less health-seeking behavior, including HIV testing. Established immigrants report HIV test rates comparable to the national average.
Levy
Vivian
V
Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Page-Shafer
Kimberly
K
Evans
Jennifer
J
Ruiz
Juan
J
Morrow
Scott
S
Reardon
Juan
J
Lynch
Martin
M
Raymond
H Fisher
HF
Klausner
Jeffrey D
JD
Facer
Mathew
M
Molitor
Fred
F
Allen
Barbara
B
Ajufo
Barbara Green
BG
Ferrero
Dennis
D
Sanford
Geneva Bell
GB
McFarland
Willy
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires