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Social Support Networks and HIV/STI Risk Behaviors Among Latino Immigrants in a New Receiving Environment

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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe the quantity and quality of social support networks of Latino immigrants living in a new receiving environment, and (2) determine the role such networks play in their HIV/STI risk behaviors, including substance use. Double incentivized convenience sampling was used to collect egocentric social support network data on 144 Latino immigrants. Latent class analysis was used for data reduction and to identify items best suited to measure quality and quantity of social support. Moderate and high quantity and quality of social support were protective of HIV/STI sexual risk behavior compared to low quantity and quality of support, after adjustment for gender, years in New Orleans and residing with family. Neither measure of social support was associated with binge drinking. The findings suggest that increased quantity and quality of social support decrease HIV/STI sexual risk behaviors but do not influence binge drinking. Interventions that improve the quantity and quality of social support are needed for Latino immigrants.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Alan Neaigus for his feedback on this manuscript. This study was supported by NIDA F30DA033729, NIDA/NCHID R21DA026806 and NIDA R21DA030269, NIDA R25DA026401, and U54 GM104940.

Funding

This research was supported by NIDA R21DA030269 and NIDA/NCHID R21DA026806, PI- Dr. Kissinger, Dr. Althoff was supported by training Grant F30DA033729 and NIDA R25DA026401, and regulatory oversight was provided by U54 GM104940.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St. SL-18, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Meghan D. Althoff, Norine Schmidt, Hirut T. Gebrekristos & Patricia Kissinger

  2. Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Meghan D. Althoff

  3. Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Katherine Theall

  4. Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    John Hembling

  5. Department of Planning and Urban Studies, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Michelle M. Thompson

  6. Quintus-ential Solutions, Colorado Springs, CO, USA

    Stephen Q. Muth

  7. National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, USA

    Samuel R. Friedman

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  1. Meghan D. Althoff
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  2. Katherine Theall
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  3. Norine Schmidt
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  9. Patricia Kissinger
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Correspondence to Patricia Kissinger.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Althoff, M.D., Theall, K., Schmidt, N. et al. Social Support Networks and HIV/STI Risk Behaviors Among Latino Immigrants in a New Receiving Environment. AIDS Behav 21, 3607–3617 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1849-8

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