Cultural influences on HIV testing among Latino youth

Abstract

Young Latinos aged 13-24 years in the USA are disproportionately impacted upon by HIV. Despite the elevated risk, lower rates of HIV testing have been documented among Latino youth relative to other racial/ethnic groups. The objective of the current study was to examine the influence of acculturation and cultural values on HIV testing among Latino youth. The study consisted of 51 sexually experienced young Latinos aged 13-16 years from a major city in the Southeastern USA. Participants completed a survey on HIV testing history, cultural orientation and Latino cultural values. Results indicate that 21.6% of the young people had been tested for HIV. The number of times tested ranged from one to four (M = 1.9 ± 1.0). HIV testing was associated with US American cultural orientation and familism (and emphasis on strong family commitment, family support and emotional closeness). Participants with greater orientation to US American culture were more likely, whereas those who endorsed higher familism value were less likely, to have had an HIV test. For participants scoring high on familism, the desire to maintain family honour may serve as a deterrent to testing. Incorporating culturally relevant strategies, such as promoting sexual communication and conversations on HIV prevention within the family, may enhance testing and narrow the gap in HIV infection between Latino youth and other ethnic groups.

Social networks, migration, and HIV testing among Latinos in a new immigrant destination: Insights from a qualitative study

“…Given the number of participants with family members in their social networks, HIV testing promotion efforts should also explore how to work with families to increase communication and challenge the multiple, intersecting forms of stigma that may shape use of HIV testing. The salience of family support has been more prominently explored in HIV literature with Latino youth (Ma & Malcolm, 2016; Muñoz-Laboy et al, 2009) and in Latin American settings (Barrington et al, 2016; Tucker et al, 2014), but our findings reaffirm the centrality of family ties for adult Latino immigrants in NC, especially those who migrate as adults.…”

HIV Testing Among Heterosexual Hispanic Women in South Florida

“…Additionally, the Hispanic culture of familism embodies the belief in strong family ties that emphasize honor, respect, and support to members of the family, prioritizing family needs over the needs of the individual. Familism has been shown to deter HIV testing (Ma & Malcolm, ). Therefore, strategies to improve communication among partners and within families may increase testing rates among Hispanics.…”

“…Living with a partner was not a critical factor to get an HIV test, which can be related to the concept of support networks prevalent in Hispanic culture. Familism values (Ma & Malcolm, ) also include extended family, which can provide support to maintain health even for women without a partner. Finally, the level of education in this sample was high (13 years on average, and less than 3% of the sample had 7 or fewer years of education), which could explain why this factor did not register as critical in the decision to obtain an HIV test.…”

A Critical Review and Commentary on the Challenges in Engaging HIV-Infected Latinos in the Continuum of HIV Care

“…Mexican and Mexican American groups), low educational level, male gender, and low self-perceived HIV risk. 30,31 Lopez-Quintero also found that married Latinos displayed lower intentions for HIV testing, which may relate to traditional conceptions of gender and sexual identity and assumptions around marital fidelity. 30…”