The Influence of Acculturation, Values and Relationship Power on Latina HIV Prevention Strategies

Sofia Mendoza

Psychology & Social Behavior/Criminology, Law & Society Faculty Mentors: Kris Beals, PhD. & Susan Charles, PhD . Funding provided by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at UC Irvine

Sariah Gonzales-Kakishita Health Educator at ASF OC

 “The average Latina client that is HIV positive and comes to ASF has a history of:        Having migrated to the U.S. by herself NO drugs NO sex for drugs or $ NO multiple partners Has been with the same MALE partner for a couple of years Has no idea how her partner was infected Usually receives diagnosis when she became pregnant.”

Positive since 1986

Picture was obtained through www.HIVstopswithme.org

.

Latinas and HIV/AIDS

 In 2005, Latinos made up 14% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 21.4% of HIV cases and 20% of AIDS cases ( CDC 2003 ).  Latinas are one of the fastest growing groups living with HIV/AIDS.  Latinas are seven times more likely than white women to get infected.

 The most common mode of transmission for Latinas is through heterosexual contact.

Research Question

 How do…  Acculturation  Gender Values  Relationship Power  …influence condom use among Latinas?

Acculturation

 Acculturation is defined as the process of culture change that an individual goes through as a result of contact with the new culture (Munet-Vilaro, Folkman & Gregorich, 1999).

 Higher levels of acculturation has been shown to be positively correlated with patterns of condom use ( Salabarria-Pena et al., 2003; Marin & Garcia 1997 ).

 Depending on levels of acculturation, Latinas are encouraged to believe that they are not a “risk group”, and that being married, or in what they believe to be a monogamous relationship, protects them from infection (Latino Commission on AIDS 2004).

Gender Values

 Gender Values are studied as traditional gender role beliefs specific to the Latino culture.

 

Machismo

(neg) is known to include, physical aggression and male dominance among men.

Marianismo

prescribes appropriate behavior for women, such as purity, chastity, devotion to the home, humbleness, and submissiveness  Traditional gender role values influence sexual submissiveness among Latinas which can impede positive sexual negotiation skills ( Faulkner, 2003 ).

Relationship Power

 Sexual relationship power is the ability to make and carry out sexual negotiations.  Women with the most relationship power are more likely to maintain the control and negotiation of condom use ( Osmond et al. 1993; Pulerwitz et al., 2003 ).

Specific Hypotheses

 H 1 : Acculturation = condom use patterns  H 2 : Gender Values = condom use patterns  H 3 : Relationship Power = condom use patterns

Methodology



Design

A quantitative survey study sampling 158 Latinas  

Setting

The community sample was recruited from:  one CBO in L.A., a Laundromat, video store & market in Tustin The college sample was recruited from:  UC Irvine

Measures/Scales

Scale Author

Marin Short

Acculturation

Scale*

Sexual Relationship Power

Scale* Mirande Sex Role Inventory Marin et al., 1997 Pulerwitz et al., 2000 Mirande, 1997

Reliability

Alpha= .92

Alpha= .84

Alpha= .75 .91

*Author had translated Spanish version of the scale.

Participants N= 158 Latinas

College 44% Community 56%

Demographics

Central South American Other birac/eth 12% 1% American 8% Mexican American 79%

 Age: 21.5

 Some College

Demographics

 Age : 25.5

 High School

College 44% Community 56%

Demographics - Religion

Other None 3% 13% Christian Catholic 12% 72%

Sexual Activity



Community Sample

Last three mos: n=65 

College Sample

Last three mos: n=48

31.8% Always 68.2% Not Always Condom Use

Mean Scores

Acculturation Gender Values Relationship Power Community College T-score

28.5

41.6

-5.324** 34.7

64.58

27.1

69.2

7.27** 2.739* * Significant at .01 level; **Significant at .001 level.

Results

 Acculturation, values and relationship power do not predict condom use at a significant level.

 Relationship power did, however, predict barriers to condom use.

Barriers to Condom Use

Reasons:

Cost

Religious Beliefs

Not sure how to use them

*On birth control

Partner Refuses I Refuse

*Does not feel the same

Condom irritates skin Don’t want to stop

Community 9% 0 1.5% 20% 9% 3% 26% 9% 1.5% College 4.5% 0 0 40% 7% 0 32% 11% 14%

Never have any * Top 2 reasons for not using condoms

1.5% 7%

Barriers to Condom Use and Relationship Power

Reasons:

Cost Not sure how to use them Partner Refuses I refuse Does not feel the same Relationship Power

-.181* -.266** -.206* .152 (.052 level) -.149 (.055 level) *Pearson Correlation is significant at the .05 level; **Correlation is significant at the .01 level

Miscellaneous Findings



Diagnosed with any

STD?

  College: 2 (3%) Community: 10 (13.5%) 

Condom Initiation Both 71.6% Partner 13.5% 14.6% Self

 Female condom:  Only 1 person

Miscellaneous Findings

 Condom Purpose: College Community Birth Control 45% 29%

Both 57% Birth Control 36%

STD Prevention 5% 6%

6% STD

Both 50% 65%



Discussion

The college sample had acculturation, gender role values, relationship power and a percentage of “always” using condoms than the community sample.

 Of those that were having sex, only 31% always used condoms and 69% did not.

 Of those that did use condoms, a high percentage did so for birth control purposes, highlighting low perception of risk.  In this study, we did not find expected associations between condom use and acculturation, values, and relationship power.  We found that relationship power did predict reasons for lack of condom use.

Implications

 Public Health concern not limited to STD’s and pregnancy rise, but also increasing rates of HIV and AIDS in the United States  Latinas and African American women are at the highest risk because they are more likely to be infected by a male whose risky behavior is unknown.  Future generations where HIV/AIDS will be the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Future Directions

 Prevention and intervention research with a focus on relationship dynamics and sexual negotiation.

 Perception of risk assessment  Provide Latinas with facts about HIV/STD’s is critical  There is a great need for encouraging alternative female controlled methods such as the female condom.

Acknowledgements

Kristin Beals, PhD.

Susan Charles, PhD.

Val Jenness, PhD.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Social Ecology Honors Program Shields For Families Rosa Reyes Juanita Andrews Family and Friends