title: Health Risk and Protective Factors Among Hispanic Women Living in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region.
abstract: As the Hispanic population continues to flourish in areas such the U.S.-Mexico border region, more attention needs to be focused on health factors among Hispanics. The purpose of this study was (1) to determine what specific health protective and health risk factors exist among Mexican/Mexican American women residing along the U.S.-Mexico border and (2) to determine the relationship between the protective and risk factors among these women. A sample of Mexican/Mexican American women (N = 98) participated in a structured interview that collected data on familism, Hispanic stress, depression, violence, and sexual risk and demographic variables. Religious factors had the largest influence on the health risk behaviors of alcohol intoxication and drug intoxication (p < .05), while familism influenced only condom use (p = .002) and a lifetime history of intimate partner violence (p = .039). Health care access also influenced the health risks of alcohol intoxication (p = .013), drug intoxication (p = .012), and condom use (p = .019). The study's results provide implications for clinical care and directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA University of Texas at El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at El Paso, TX, USA epvasquez@utep.edu.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Provencio-Vasquez
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mancera
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Holly J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D065840:Protective Factors; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Hispanics; Latinos; Mexican American; health; protective factors; risk factors