Acculturation, Sexual Behaviors, and Health Care Access Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2006–2010

Abstract

Purpose To examine national estimates of sexual behaviors and health care access by acculturation among adolescents. Methods Using the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth, four acculturation groups of Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites aged 15–24 years were analyzed by sexual behaviors and health care access. Results In analyses adjusted for demographics, English-speaking immigrants, Hispanic natives, and non-Hispanic white youth were less likely to have a partner age difference of ≥6 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], .28; 95% confidence interval [CI], .13–.60; AOR, .13; 95% CI, .07–.26; AOR, .16; 95% CI, .08–.32, respectively) and more likely to use a condom at the first vaginal sex (AOR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.10–3.61; AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.33–3.31; AOR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.53–3.74, respectively) than Spanish-speaking immigrants. Non-Hispanic white youth and Hispanic natives were more likely to have a regular place for medical care (AOR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.36–3.16; AOR, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.36–5.68, respectively) and a chlamydia test in the past 12 months (AOR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.52–8.60; AOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.32–6.54) than Spanish-speaking immigrants. Conclusions Interventions to reduce risk and increase health care access are needed for immigrant Hispanic youth, particularly Spanish-speaking immigrants.

Cultural influences on HIV testing among Latino youth

“…This finding is consistent with studies of adult samples, indicating that acculturated Latinos are more likely than their less acculturated counterparts to test for HIV (Kinsler et al 2009;Wohl, Tejero, and Frye 2009). Existing studies suggest acculturated Latinos have greater English proficiency, HIV knowledge, access to health education and healthcare coverage and services (Haderxhanaj et al 2014;Kinsler et al 2009;Miller 2000). Having the sufficient language skills to seek medical services, coupled with the availability of healthcare, may promote HIV testing among Latino youth.…”

Risky sexual behavior of foreign and native-born women in emerging adulthood: The long reach of mother-daughter relationships in adolescence

“…Immigrant young women, those in the first and second generations, may have limited access to STI testing and/or hormonal and other long-acting contraceptives (Haderxhanaj et al, 2014). Limited access to medical care may contribute to immigrant women’s lower reports about STI diagnoses, but Upchurch et al’s (2004) finding that self reports about STIs correspond well to actual STI diagnoses from Add Health respondents’ biomarker samples suggest that the data we use are still a reasonable representation of this dimension of risky sexual behavior.…”

“…To date there are a limited number of studies on the sexual behavior of immigrant young adults (Haderxhanaj et al, 2014; Schwartz et al, 2011; Smith, 2015) and even fewer studies on early life factors, such as relationships with parents, that could influence sexual risk behavior of young adults from immigrant families (Deutsch & Crockett, 2015). The present study addresses this gap.…”

Trends in Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Hispanic/Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men — 19 Urban Areas, 2011–2017

“…Participants’ place of birth was dichotomized as U.S.-born (50 states and the District of Columbia) or non-U.S.–born. Among non-U.S.–born participants, number of years of U.S. residence was used as a proxy for acculturation (i.e., language preference), with a cutoff of ≤5 years to define recent migration ( 5 , 6 ). Sexual risk behavior was measured by two variables: 1) condomless anal sex during the previous 12 months and 2) unprotected anal sex, defined as condomless anal sex without having taken PrEP at any time during the previous 12 months.…”