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

Abstract

Latinos in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by HIV and are more likely than non-Latinos to present with a late diagnosis, which delays engagement in HIV care and treatment. Social networks may provide normative influence and social support for HIV testing, but a contextualised understanding of networks is needed in order to maximise these social resources. We conducted qualitative interviews with foreign-born Latino men and transgender women (n = 17) in a new immigrant destination to explore their social networks. Most participants described having smaller social networks after migrating. Networks included both local and transnational ties, but most participants had few close ties. Contextual factors including stigma and geographic dispersion limited the re-construction of networks with close ties after migration. HIV testing was not a common topic of discussion with social network ties. Efforts to improve early uptake of HIV testing among Latino immigrants may benefit from engaging with social networks, but such efforts need to address how the context in which networks operate enables access to testing.

Motivations for PrEP-Related Interpersonal Communication Among Women Who Inject Drugs: A Qualitative Egocentric Network Study

“…Although egocentric network analysis is dominated by quantitative research methods, qualitative methods are also valid approaches when the intention of the investigation is to explore the subjective meaning of social network members and to generate hypotheses (Fuhse & Mützel, 2011; Scott & Carrington, 2011). Qualitative analysis of egocentric networks has been used previously to explore the connection between networks and a variety of health topics (Barrington et al, 2018; Carpentier & Ducharme, 2005; Dupuis-Blanchard et al, 2009). Therefore, we take a qualitative approach to egocentric network analysis to allow for an in-depth exploration of the social context in which interpersonal PrEP communication occurs among women who inject drugs and network members.…”

“He Told Me to Check My Health”: A Qualitative Exploration of Social Network Influence on Men’s HIV Testing Behavior and HIV Self-Testing Willingness in Tanzania

“…Men’s social networks could be used to promote HIVST (Conserve, Kajula, Yamanis, & Maman, 2016a; Valente, 2012). Social networks have been reported to provide naturally occurring platforms that allow network leaders and members to share information about innovative products (e.g., HIVST; Rogers, 2010; Valente, 2012; Valente & Pumpuang, 2007) and HIV testing specifically (Barrington et al, 2017; Siu, Wight, & Seeley, 2014; Yamanis, Dervisevic, et al, 2017). Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa has demonstrated how social norms (descriptive and injunctive) within men’s social networks influence their perceived HIV-related norms for stigma, condom use, concurrency, and HIV testing (Maina et al, 2018; Mulawa et al, 2016; Nelson et al, 2015; Ragnarsson, Townsend, Thorson, Chopra, & Ekström, 2009; Yamanis, Dervisevic, et al, 2017; Yamanis, Fisher, Moody, & Kajula, 2016).…”

Contextual influences on Latino men’s sexual and substance use behaviors following immigration to the Midwestern United States

“…In our study, differences in values and goals within the immigrants' families, such as religious relatives of gay immigrants or single immigrants with married relatives, also tended to push some immigrants away from their familial support in the United States. These immigrants' lack of familial support was often compounded by the difficulty in establishing longstanding extra-familial relationships beyond sharing activities or physical and social spaces, given the high mobility, job instability, distrust, and incompatibility of social activities with immigrants' goals (see Barrington et al 2017). Thus, although our participants reported a tendency to socialize with other immigrants, live in Latino neighborhoods (see Table 1), and select Latino sexual partners, a significant portion did not feel well integrated into the local Latino community.…”