Latinos & HIV / AIDS Prevention
By Matteo Legget
Executive Summary
LATINOS & HIV/AIDS PREVENTION
Matteo Leggett, Whitman College
Executive Summary, November 27, 2006
I
felt rejected by the people because they thought that I was positive,
even though I didn’t show any signs of being positive, I never said I
was positive, because in the community in which we reside, we are many
Hispanics, and the community has yet to educate itself, they think that
by touching them, or greeting them, or sitting with friends, that oh,
you’ll pass on the disease. — Anonymous, Latino HIV/AIDS educator.
Topic:
In this report, I examine the most effective ways to prevent the spread
of HIV/AIDS among Latinos. In addition, I address why Latinos are
disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, by focusing on two (among
many) contributory factors: the dearth of effective prevention programs
targeted specifically towards Latinos and the role of stigma in
inhibiting testing for HIV.
Methods: From the HIV/AIDS
literature that I reviewed, the most effective way to prevent the
spread of HIV/AIDS among Latinos is by considering cultural
specificities, gender role norms, language, and the role of stigma and
fear in the implementation of prevention interventions. Cognizant of
these important factors, I collected quantitative data on a national
and state level, carried out a case study on Blue Mountain Heart to
Heart’s Latino outreach program, and conducted an interview with a
Latino HIV/AIDS educator.
Findings:
• There are
substantial gaps in the HIV/AIDS literature. Specifically, there has
not been enough research on prevention interventions targeted directly
towards Latinos.
• Stigma attached to the disease as well as the
HIV test itself inhibits HIV prevention efforts. More generally, fear
of being perceived as promiscuous, gay, or a drug abuser inhibits HIV
prevention efforts.
• Statistics on a national and state level indicate that Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS.
• Blue Mountain Heart to Heart’s Latino Outreach Program has helped prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the local area.
Recommendations:
• More prevention interventions with proven effectiveness should be geared towards Latinos.
•
The prevention interventions developed for Latinos should be
culturally specific as well as gender sensitive. Further, prevention
interventions should consider both English and Spanish speaking Latinos.
•
HIV/AIDS statistics from the Centers for Disease and Control and the
Washington State Department of Health should consider inhibitory
factors to HIV testing such as stigma and religion. Moreover, the
Latino category in statistics should be expanded into more categories.
Community
Partner: Another source of information and support for this report has
been my Community Partner, Suzanne Morrissey. Professor Morrissey is
the director of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart.
