title: Cell phone utilization among foreign-born Latinos: a promising tool for dissemination of health and HIV information.
abstract: Latinos in the US are disproportionately affected by HIV and are at risk for late presentation to care. Between June 2011 and January 2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 209 Baltimore Latinos at community-based venues to evaluate the feasibility of using information communication technology-based interventions to improve access to HIV testing and education within the Spanish-speaking community in Baltimore. Participants had a median age of 33 years interquartile range (IQR) (IQR 28-42), 51.7 % were male, and 95.7 % were foreign-born. Approximately two-thirds (63.2 %) had been in the US less than 10 years and 70.1 % had been previously tested for HIV. Cell phone (92.3 %) and text messaging (74.2 %) was used more than Internet (52.2 %) or e-mail (42.8 %) (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, older age and lower education were associated with less utilization of Internet, e-mail and text messaging, but not cell phones. Interest was high for receiving health education (73.1 %), HIV education (70.2 %), and test results (68.8 %) via text messaging. Innovative cell phone-based communication interventions have the potential to link Latino migrants to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.
authors: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St. Phipps 524, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Leite
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Buresh
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Rios
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Conley
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: Flys
authors: Kathleen R
authors: KR
authors: Page
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data