title: Prevalence of HIV risk behaviors among undocumented Central American immigrant women in Houston, Texas.
abstract: Undocumented Central American immigrants in the United States are disproportionately affected by HIV infection. However, epidemiological data on sexual behaviors among undocumented women are sparse and the extent to which behaviors vary by duration of residence in the U.S.is largely unknown. In 2010, we used respondent driven sampling to conduct an HIV behavioral survey among Central American immigrant women residing in Houston, Texas without a valid U.S. visa or residency papers. Here we describe the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors and compare recent (5 years or less in the U.S.) and established immigrants (over 5 years in the U.S.) to elucidate changes in sexual risk behaviors over time. Our data suggest that recent immigrants have less stable sexual partnerships than established immigrants, as they are more likely to have multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships, as well as partnerships of shorter duration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, USA. jane.e.richards@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Jane R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Montealegre
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Risser
authors.forename: Beatrice J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Selwyn
authors.forename: Sheryl A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McCurdy
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sabin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055815:Young Adult