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Migrant Latino Day Laborers and Intentions to Test for HIV

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Abstract

This cross sectional study utilized convenience sampling to investigate the HIV testing intentions of 290 sexually active, male, migrant Latino day laborers, 18 years old or older. The findings indicate that day laborers are indeed at risk for HIV. Nearly two-thirds of the men intended to test for HIV in the next year. Men who were at higher risk of infection from their sexual encounters with female partners were more likely to intend to test, as were men making less money and men who did not perceive themselves to be at risk. Men who attended high school or beyond, and reported using a condom with casual female partners, were much more likely to intend to test than men who did not attend school and reported no such condom use. The prevalence of high risk sex and the low rates of condom use have implications for the increased transmission of HIV.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS, Epidemiology Branch. Special thanks to Maya Tholandi, Juan Ruiz, Fred Molitor, Paola Grasso, Renato Littaua, Jun Song, and Assunta Ritieni of the California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS; Amity Balbutin-Burnham, Sergio Martinez, Ari Haytin, Jesus Altamirano, Carlos Fletes-Diaz, and Sarah Fink of the City of Berkeley Health Department; and Malcolm Potts of the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Correspondence to Samantha F. Ehrlich.

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Ehrlich, S.F., Organista, K.C. & Oman, D. Migrant Latino Day Laborers and Intentions to Test for HIV. AIDS Behav 11, 743–752 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9182-7

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