Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116808

Samantha F. Ehrlich, MPH¹, Maya Tholandi, MPH², Sergio Martinez, BS³, and Jennifer K. Baham, MPH². (1) Maternal and Child Health, University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, 1601 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, (2) HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Branch, Office of AIDS, California Department of Health Services, MS 7700, P.O. Box 997426, Sacramento, CA 95899-7426, 916-449-5853, JBaham@dhs.ca.gov, (3) City of Berkeley Health Department, 830 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710

Background: The California State Office of AIDS and the City Berkeley Health Department joined forces to investigate the behaviors of male, Latino migrant day laborers that may place them at increased risk for HIV/AIDS and other STDs, their HIV testing history, and to identify preferences for HIV/AIDS outreach and testing services. Methods: In the spring and early summer of 2003, a team of community outreach workers interviewed 290 male, Latino migrant day laborers (18 years of age or older) congregated to solicit work in Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond. The study utilized convenience sampling. Results: One third (30.9%) of the migrant workers had tested for HIV and 61.5% reported that it was either very likely or probable that they would test for HIV in the next year. Those who had tested for STDs were more likely to have tested for HIV (÷2= 106.6; p value <0.01). Of day-laborers who were married, 21.1% had migrated with their wives and 60.9% reported having sex with women in the United States (n= 161). The men were more likely to report using a condom with a casual female partner than with a primary female partner (÷2= 40.9; p value <0.01). Over half of the migrant workers (57.7%) preferred to receive HIV prevention information via group counseling. Half (50.5%) preferred blood as a testing specimen and 54.6% preferred a rapid test. Conclusions: Understanding the sexual risk behaviors and prevention service preferences of male, Latino migrant day laborers is essential for the design of successful intervention programs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the prevalence of various HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among male, Latino day laborers in the East Bay
• Identify the outreach and service preferences of this population
• Develop prevention services tailored specifically to this population

Keywords: Migrant Workers, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.