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Sexual Health and Language Dominance Among Hispanic/Latino Women and Men: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample

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Abstract

This study assessed the prevalence of sexual behaviors among a nationally representative sample of Latino men and women in the United States (US) (N = 432) including Spanish language data collection. Prior studies of sexual health among US Latinos have consisted of convenience samples, and focused mainly on assessing risk behaviors. We consider a broader range of sexual behaviors, subjective sexual experiences (e.g. pleasure and arousal), and STI testing behaviors. Analyses by language dominance and gender indicate a higher variability in sexual behaviors for English-dominant participants and a link between overall STI testing to regular medical examinations, especially women. Higher rates of pleasure, orgasms and arousal was reported by Spanish-dominant men and women, relative to the English-dominant group. Results represent a nuanced examination of internal differentiation among US Latinos and provides applicable data for reducing sexual health disparities in this population.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Church & Dwight, Inc., maker of Trojan Brand condoms and vibrators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 East 7th Street, Suite 116, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Lucia Guerra-Reyes

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 East 7th Street, Suite 116, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Benjamin Rush

  3. Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Debby Herbenick, Brian Dodge & Michael Reece

  4. University of Texas at Houston, Houston, USA

    Vanessa Schick

  5. Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Stephanie A. Sanders

  6. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    J. Dennis Fortenberry

Authors
  1. Lucia Guerra-Reyes
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  2. Benjamin Rush
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  3. Debby Herbenick
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  4. Brian Dodge
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  5. Michael Reece
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  6. Vanessa Schick
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  7. Stephanie A. Sanders
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  8. J. Dennis Fortenberry
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Correspondence to Lucia Guerra-Reyes.

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Guerra-Reyes, L., Rush, B., Herbenick, D. et al. Sexual Health and Language Dominance Among Hispanic/Latino Women and Men: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample. J Immigrant Minority Health 19, 1059–1072 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0446-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0446-7

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