Cultural Practices of Hispanics: Implications for the Prevention of AIDS

Abstract

Specific cultural practices of Hispanics were assessed with regard to condom use as an AIDS prevention measure. The sample of 190 Hispanics, including 117 males and 73 females, were mostly young adults who had recently immigrated to the western part of the United States. Condom use was associated with the "one who buys the condoms, " who were mostly men, and machismo practices, such as protecting the woman by using condoms. Suggestions include directing prevention of AIDS messages to males, emphasizing the protection of women through the use of condoms. Religion was nota significant factor with regard to use of condoms even though over 85% of the subjects identified themselves as Catholic. Fate orientation with respect toAIDS also was not a significant factor. The extent adherence to traditional Hispanic cultural values was influenced by the degree of education and acculturation. It is suggested that both education and acculturation levels be assessed prior to the implementation of prevention programs.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bach-y-Rita, G. (1982). The Mexican American: Religious and cultural influences. In R. M. Becerra , M. Karno , & J. I. Escobar (Eds.), Mental health and HispanicAmericans: Clinical perspectives (pp. 29-40). New York: Grune & Stratton.

Carpio, A. , Carpio-Cedaro, F. F. , & Anderson, L. (1990). Hispanic families learning and teaching about AIDS: A participatory approach at the community level. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12, 165-176.

Cochran, S. D. (1989). Women and HIV infection: Issues in prevention and behavior change. In V. M. Mays , G. W. Albee , & S. F. Schneider (Eds.), Primary prevention of AIDS (pp. 309-427). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Cole, D. L. (1982). Locus of control in cross-cultural perspective. Aztlan, 12, 241-257.

Cuellar, I. , Harris, L. C. , & Jasso, R. (1980). An acculturation scale for Mexican American normal and clinical populations. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 2, 199-217.

Keefe, S. E. , & Padilla, A. M. (1987). Chicano ethnicity. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.

Mata, A. G. , & Jorquez, J. S. (1989). Mexican-American intravenous drug users' needle-sharing practices: Implications for AIDS prevention. In V. M. Mays , G. W. Albee , & S. F. Schneider (Eds.), Primary prevention of AIDS (pp. 329-344). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Mirande, A. (1988). Que' gacho es ser macho: It's a drag to be a macho man. Aztlan, 17(2), 63-87.

Panitz, D. R. , McConchie, R. D. , Sauber, S. R. , & Fonseca, J. A. (1983). The role of machismo and the Hispanic family in the etiology and treatment of alcoholism in Hispanic American males. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 11(1), 31-44.

10.

Peterson, J. , & Marin, G. (1988). Issues in the prevention of AIDS among Black and Hispanic men. American Psychologist, 43, 871-877.

11.

Ramirez, M. (1967). Identification with Mexican family values and authoritarianism in Mexican-Americans. The Journal of Social Psychology, 73, 3-11.

12.

Ramirez, M. , & Castaneda, A. (1974). Cultural democracy, biocognitive development and education. New York: Academic Press.

13.

Schinke, S. P. , Botvin, G. J. , Orlandi, M. A. , Schilling, R. F. , & Gordon, A. N. (1990). African-American and Hispanic-American adolescents, HIV infection and preventive intervention. AIDS, 2, 305-312.

14.

Selik, R. M. , Castro, K. G. , & Pappaioanou, M. (1988). Racial/ethnic differences in risk of AIDS. American Journal of Public Health, 78, 1539-1545.

15.

Singer, M. , Castillo, Z. , Davison, L. , & Flores, C. (1990). Owning AIDS: Latino organizations and the AIDS epidemic. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12, 196-211.