title: Sexual Health and Language Dominance Among Hispanic/Latino Women and Men: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample.
abstract: This study assessed the prevalence of sexual behaviors among a nationally representative sample of Latino men and women in the United States (US) (N = 432) including Spanish language data collection. Prior studies of sexual health among US Latinos have consisted of convenience samples, and focused mainly on assessing risk behaviors. We consider a broader range of sexual behaviors, subjective sexual experiences (e.g. pleasure and arousal), and STI testing behaviors. Analyses by language dominance and gender indicate a higher variability in sexual behaviors for English-dominant participants and a link between overall STI testing to regular medical examinations, especially women. Higher rates of pleasure, orgasms and arousal was reported by Spanish-dominant men and women, relative to the English-dominant group. Results represent a nuanced examination of internal differentiation among US Latinos and provides applicable data for reducing sexual health disparities in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 East 7th Street, Suite 116, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. luguerra@indiana.edu.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3300-0720
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guerra-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 East 7th Street, Suite 116, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herbenick
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dodge
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Houston, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: J Dennis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fortenberry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000074384:Sexual Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000208:ethnology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hispanic/Latino; Language dominance; Sexual behaviors; Sexual health