Developing a Culturally Appropriate HIV and Hepatitis C Prevention Intervention for Latino Criminal Justice Clients

Abstract

The population within the criminal justice system suffers from various health disparities including HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). African American and Latino offenders represent the majority of the offender population. Evidence-based interventions to prevent HIV and HCV among criminal justice clients are scant and usually do not take cultural differences into account. Toward this end, this study describes the process of culturally adapting an HIV/HCV prevention intervention for Latino criminal justice clients in Miami, Florida, by using the ecological validity model. Recommendations for culturally adapting an intervention for Latinos include an emphasis on language and integrating cultural themes such as familism and machismo.

Gender, age, and ethnic differences in offending behavior among Hispanic/Latino criminal justice clients

“…Findings will help in the development of age, gender, and culturally appropriate interventions. The findings in this study will help better target services for the Hispanic/Latino criminal justice population, which is often neglected in prevention interventions (Ibañez et al, 2016). The research questions are the following: 1) what offenses are most common among Hispanic/Latino criminal justice clients by gender, age, and Hispanic/Latino subgroups; and 2) are there any differences in offending behavior by gender, age, or Hispanic/Latino subgroups?…”

“…The term Hispanic/Latino encompasses a diverse group of people, who are heterogeneous in terms of nativity, immigration status, language, and acculturation which are important factors to understand when creating culturally tailored interventions (Gonzalez Burchard et al, 2005;Ibañez et al, 2016;Schwartz, Montgomery, & Briones, 2006). Most studies on Hispanic/Latino subgroups look at acculturation and compare US born versus foreign-born Hispanic/Latinos.…”

“…Most studies on Hispanic/Latino subgroups look at acculturation and compare US born versus foreign-born Hispanic/Latinos. US born Hispanic/Latinos are more likely to report violent offending behaviors (Shekarkhar & Gibson, 2011), to be involved in lifetime and recent crime, to use illicit drugs (Ibañez et al, 2016;Ibañez et al, 2017;Mancini, Salas-Wright, & Vaughn, 2015), and to be arrested for miscellaneous offenses or property crime (Ibañez et al, 2016) compared to foreign-born Hispanic/Latinos. Fewer studies have examined Hispanic/Latinos by region or country of origin.…”

“…However, one study found that Central Americans are more likely to be arrested for violent and domestic crimes than other Hispanic/Latino subgroups (Gil-Rivas, Anglin, & Annon, 1997); and another study found that second generation Cubans on government assistance are more likely than second generation Mexicans to engage in crime (Ortiz & Telles, 2012). Increased insight on the differences among Hispanic/Latinos is essential in creating culturally competent services in reaching out to Hispanic/Latino subpopulations that may be criminal justice involved (Ibañez, et al, 2016).…”

Awareness and Epidemiology of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infections in Florida

“…To address this increasing number of infections, specifically in younger patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Preventive Services Task Force, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have now all endorsed universal, one-time screening for HCV in adults 18 years of age and older [8][9][10]. The burden of HCV infection disproportionately impacts Florida due to its large retiree population, as well as other high-risk populations, including non-Hispanic Black individuals [11,12], and those individuals in correctional facilities [13,14], especially incarcerated Hispanic persons [15]. Increased resources for improving knowledge of this disease, linkage to care, and subsequent treatment in these high-risk populations are needed to reduce the prevalence of chronic HCV [13,[16][17][18].…”