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Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors in a Migrant Worker Community

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Abstract

There are not many studies exploring the association between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors among migrant workers. This study analyzed how changes in alcohol use was associated with changes in risky sexual behavior and psychosocial variables. Data for this study was drawn from an HIV risk reduction project. Repeated measures ANOVA and Linear mixed model statistical method was conducted to find changes and association between alcohol use, sexual risk and psychosocial variables over time. The sample (n = 203) was composed of African Americans (33.0 %) and Hispanics (77.0 %) men. Both groups, over time, showed reduction in sexual risk in accordance with reduction in alcohol use. Changes in alcohol use and psychosocial variables showed significant association with sexual risk changes over time. Psychological strategies like building social support should be considered for HIV risk reduction intervention directed towards high alcohol consuming migrant workers.

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Acknowledgments

The funding for this study was from Grant Number: 5R01AA015810, National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse. We would like to extend our thanks to all the men and women who travel across this great land to work in agriculture, construction, and other industries and would like to dedicate this study to those hardworking individuals.

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Correspondence to Muni Rubens.

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The authors report no real or perceived vested interests that relate to this article that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

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McCoy, H.V., Shehadeh, N. & Rubens, M. Alcohol Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors in a Migrant Worker Community. J Immigrant Minority Health 18, 561–567 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0240-y

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