HIV/AIDS: The Impact on Latinas and Latino Youth
¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? What does it have to do with me?
By: Jessica
Guadalupe, a first generation U.S. born Latina, had everything going for her. She was valedictorian of her high school class, received a full ride scholarship to Emory University, and was dating her high school sweetheart. Guadalupe not only excelled academically her first year at Emory, but she also became president of the Latina sorority. Guadalupe organized the sororities’ annual HIV/AIDS informational fair bringing free testing and information to the student body. Guadalupe got tested, but her results were unexpected and devastating. She was HIV positive. Guadalupe was taking precautions to avoid getting pregnant, but she never thought she was at risk for getting HIV since she was in a monogamous relationship. Later, she found out that her boyfriend had cheated on her and that he was also HIV positive. Thinking back Guadalupe realized that she was always shy about discussing ‘safer sex’ with her boyfriend since growing up her mom did not talk to her about the dirty word, sex. Plus, her boyfriend always said sex felt better without a condom and questioning him about not wearing a condom would mean she thought he was cheating on her.
Although Latinos represent approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 19 percent of the AIDS cases diagnosed in 2005; and underreporting remains a concern.[1,2] The causes contributing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. Latino community are complex. Although the Latino community is extremely diverse, its members share common factors that may place them at increased risk of HIV/AIDS: discrimination; stigma; homophobia; socioeconomic hardship; overcrowding; poverty; rigid gender roles and expectations; high mobility; isolation from family and country of origin; and marginalized status.[1] Heterosexual women like Guadalupe are becoming the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Latino community.
HIV/AIDS Impact on Latina Women
Among women, Latinas account for 16 percent of new AIDS cases in 2005; Black women account for 66 percent and white women accounted for 16 percent.[1] HIV among Latinos can be partly attributed to its increasing spread through heterosexual transmission. AIDS was the 5th leading cause of death for Latinas, aged 25-44, in 2004.[1]
Poverty, Latinas, and HIV/AIDS
Poverty continues to be an unspoken factor that disproportionately affects the HIV risk of Latinos and African Americans. It is estimated that 23 percent of Latinos live in poverty.[2] Several studies have demonstrated the link between HIV risk and aspects of poverty - it is a factor that affects access to health care and preventive health resources as a family’s focus on immediate survival may take priority over its health and well-being.[3]
Close to 25 percent of Latino households are headed by single Latinas, the lowest paid wager earners of any group.[2] In addition, economic dependence on a partner limits a woman’s ability to leave an abusive partner or to negotiate risk reduction behavior such as requiring her partner to use a condom.[2] A mother’s struggle to put food on the table for her kids far outweighs her need to negotiate safer sex with her partner. However, this does not mean that women living in poverty do not want to be informed about safer sex or how to practice safer sex. Other issues related to poverty like housing issues and residential instability can also have a negative effect on preventive behaviors, such as condom use, and can lead to an increased rate of substance abuse.[4]
Furthermore, lack of educational opportunities, which may be poverty’s greatest burden, also disproportionately impacts Latinos. For example 67 percent of Latinas are high school graduates and less than 22 percent have earned a bachelors degree or higher.[2] Low educational attainments, monolingual Spanish, and low literacy levels further prevent some Latinos from accessing accurate HIV/AIDS information.[2] However, low educational attainment does not mean one does not deserve information and resources to enable good decisions about sexual health.
Gender Roles and Acculturation
Traditional Latino culture attaches a stigma to discussing sex, sexually transmitted diseases, sexuality, and other related topics. Rigid gender roles in the Latino community exacerbate the lack of communication between parents and children, and between partners, about sex and preventive information. Stigma around these issues may inhibit healthy behaviors. For example, U.S. Latinos are shown to be the least likely of all other racial and ethnic groups to utilize condoms and other safe-sex practices that prevent AIDS and other STIs.[2] Some Latinas and their partners may feel that a discussion about condoms is akin to an accusation of infidelity.
Acculturation (when the attitudes and behaviors of people from one culture are modified as a result of contact with a different culture[5]) is an important issue for Latinos, who may struggle with combining traditional Latino culture with U.S. culture. Acculturation has been shown to have a mixed effect on HIV risk. It has been associated with a greater knowledge of health issues, and a greater likelihood of seeking treatment.[2] But high levels of acculturation have also been associated with an increased number of sex partners, greater incidence of unprotected sex, and a higher number of unintended pregnancies.[2]
Latino Youth and HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS has taken a toll on the lives of Latino youth and young adults. Latino youth are the second-most-likely racial/ethnic group to contract HIV/AIDS - Latino teens aged 13-19, accounted for 17 percent of AIDS cases among teens in 2005.[1] Furthermore, Latinos aged 20-24 accounted for 22 percent of new AIDS cases reported among young adults, but represented only18 percent of U.S. young adults, in 2005.[1] Similar to Latinas, the low socioeconomic status of Latino youth, coupled with cultural stigma around sex and gender roles likely contribute to behaviors that increase risk for contracting HIV.[2]
Empowering Youth and Latina Women
Latino youth and women need to be encouraged to speak more openly about sexuality, safer sex practices, and STI and HIV/AIDS testing. The dialogue must be intergenerational and culturally relevant. The importance of family in the Latino community is a tool that can be used to encourage healthy behaviors and dialogue. For Latina women, evidence shows the effectiveness of utilizing political empowerment as a health education strategy. Generally, sexual communication comfort can be affected by a program that focuses on empowering Latinas rather than solely focusing on HIV prevention.[2]
So, Latino youth and Latina women start the conversation with your parents, encourage your hermanas and amigos to get tested, and get informed about how to protect yourselves!
If you have questions about HIV/AIDS or any other reproductive or sexual health issue please contact one of our peer educators . MySistahs is a website created by and for young women of color to provide information and offer support on sexual and reproductive health issues through education and advocacy.
For more information about HIV/AIDS:
References
- Kaiser Family Foundation, HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet: Latinos and HIV/AIDS, 2007
- Rios-Ellis, Britt. Redefining HIV/AIDS For Latinos: A Promising New Paradigm for Addressing HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic Community. National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC, 2006
- Sikkema, K.J., Heckman, T.G., & et al. HIV risk behaviors among women living in low-income, inner-city housing developments. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 1123-1128.
- Kline, A., Kline E., & Oken, E. 1992. Minority Women and sexual choice in the age of AIDS. Social Science and Medicine, 34, 447-457
- Enotes, Definition of Acculturation. Retrieved February 11, 2008 from http://www.enotes.com/public-health-encyclopedia/acculturation
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