Latino Women and AIDS Risk

Abstract

This study describes risk behaviors among Puerto Rican women and identifies variables related to high-risk behavior, including sociodemographic status, knowledge about HIV and AIDS, religiosity, acculturation, and attitudes toward contraceptive use and homosexuality. Puerto Rican women (N = 121) were recruited through a community-based organization in Philadelphia. Respondents were an average of 30 years old; 21% were married and not separated, 79% were either single (50.9%), separated (14.3%), divorced (11.6%), or widowed (1.8%); 69% had 1-3 children. Most women (74%) were at moderate to high risk for AIDS. Results from logistic regression with a single independent variable yielded no statistical significance for the following variables: income, number of children, religiosity, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, AIDS knowledge, homophobia, Symptom Checklist-90-R, and Population Policy Questionnaire items. When the three acculturation variables consisting of a language score, an activity score, and a preference score were examined, however, the language score was highly statistically significant, with a p value of 0.0001. Its positive logistic regression coefficient indicates that AIDS risk increases as preference for English increases. Further research is needed of Latino women that studies other Latino subgroups, given that HIV prevalence varies across subgroups.