1. An Analysis of domains associated with levels of basic HIV/AIDS knowledge among Latinos in two universities
Patria Rojas1, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H,; Francisco Sastre2, M.A.,
Rui Duan3, M.P.H.; Mario De La Rosa1, Ph.D.
1School of Social Work, Justice and Public Affairs, Florida International University
2 Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Florida International University
3 Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University
APHA Meeting - November 2007
Washington, DC

2. Goal of the current study
Explore the associations between demographic factors and HIV testing history with the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among Latinos in two Hispanic serving universities in south Florida.

3. Background and significance
50% new HIV infection in the US were among adolescents or young adults (CDC, 2002).
25% of AIDS patients in Florida acquired HIV during adolescence (FDH, 2003)
Miami have had the highest HIV rate in the state of Florida (FDH, 2003)
Most people acquired HIV through unprotected sex (CDC, 2004)
HIV/AIDS among Latinos have increased in Miami Dade (CDC, 2004)
Miami Dade
According to the US census 49% of the adolescents living in Miami Dade are Latino descent. Hence the need to find effective prevention health measure for the growing population.

4. Literature
Age, gender, and HIV testing history have been significantly associated with HIV knowledge (DuRant et al. 1992, Polacek 2007)
HIV knowledge have been associated with safer sex among young adults (Bazargan et al. 2000, Stigum et al. 1995, Maxuel et al. 1999)
Stigmatizing attitudes are strongly correlated with misunderstanding the mechanism of HIV transmission and overestimating the risk of casual contact (Herek et al. 2002).

5. Literature (cont’)
Attitudes= Condom use was related to perceiving negative or positive attitudes from their main partners (boyfriend, lover)
Lescano and Vazquez et al.(2006) - study included, Miami, Providence, Atlanta
HIV knowledge= Conflicting results
Robertson et al. 2006, not associated
DiClemente et al. (1991)- some association in incarcerated youths
Lescano’s participants were femleas 50%
Condon use attitudes:
Perception was not significant with casual partners…it may be why.
HIV knowledge=
Robertson- 523 mostly AA

6. Literature (cont’) Youth’s exposure to HIV - combination of:
Tendency to underestimate the risk of acquiring HIV (Magura, Shapiro & Kanga, 1994)
Tendency to experiment with alcohol and other drugs (Cooper 2002, Rotheram-Borus, 2000; Lowry, 1994)
Drugs that will compromise their judgement and increase their risk of engaging in risky sexual behavior. (Rotheram & Borus, 2000)

7. Method: study design N= 376 (17 years and older ) Approved by FIU IRB
Self-administered 12 question survey
Questions on three areas of HIV knowledge:
HIV/AIDS stigma
HIV/AIDS prevention
HIV/AIDS transmission
Recruitment was done on campus (student center, cafeterias and student fairs)
Two Hispanic Serving universities
Knowledge on prevention & transmission

8. Method: Participants
Just in case we need this…

9. Example of questions:
Can you get HIV if you work with someone who has HIV? a. yes
b. no
You can get infected with HIV by having oral sex without a condom
a. true
b. false
Who is at risk of acquiring HIV?
a. gay men
b. people who is having unprotected sex
c. everyone
Have you ever been tested for HIV?
Do you know what a female condom is?
Based on the literature review and on the presented model, in order to better understand what is the relationship among drug use, condom use attitudes, condom use skills, parental and peer approval to use condoms,, HIV knowledge and risky sexual behaviors the following questions were formulated.

10. Data Collection Recruited by graduate level students
Compensation gifts for their time (including literature and referral information)
Evaluation of their English skill and willingness to participate in the 5 min. survey
3 participants didn’t participate due to intellectual impairments
Seven refused to participate

11. Variables Independent Dependent Demographics: gender,
age groups (17-24, 25-35, 36-older)
Awareness about female condoms
History of HIV testing
Dependent
HIV Basic Knowledge
HIV Stigma
HIV Prevention
HIV Transmission
Education : number of years of school completed.
Race/etncity: categorical: White, non-White-Latino, African American, Latino, and Other (caribbean not of Haitian descend, Haitian, and Pacific Islander).

12. Data Analysis
1. Descriptive analysis for the demographic and outcome variables
Means±SD
Frequencies
Crosstabs
2. Statistical analysis (SPSS and SAS)
Logistic regressions
Chi-square
Distribution was windosorized by taking the 99th percentile and equating all responses above above that value to one plus the value on the 99th percentile place or distribution. Done to reduce the impact of exteme scores in number of sex in the last six months.
STDs produced large standard errors due to the empty cells and it was dropped.
Anal sex, also produced large standard errors and therefore it will not be discussed in this presentation although it thoroughly explained is extensively discussed in the dissertation.

13. Results 1. Participants’ demographics Count % Gender Male Female
Missing 89
281 6
23.7
74.7
1.6
Age (by group)
17-24
25-36
37-older
206 71 95 4
54.8
18.9
25.2
1.1
Mean SD
Age (by year)
27.8
23.0

14. Results 2. Survey answers Count %
HIV knowledge questions (answered correctly) 62
16.5
HIV stigma questions (answered correctly)
188
50.0
HIV prevention questions (answered correctly)
181
48.1
HIV transmission questions (answered correctly)
197
52.4
Have you ever been tested for HIV? (yes)
185
49.2
Do you know what a female condom is? (yes)
314
83.5

15. Results:
Age was positively associated with HIV overall knowledge, stigma, prevention, and transmission
Being a female was associated with a higher stigmatized perception of HIV (p<0.01)
Having knowledge about female condoms was positively associated with knowledge on HIV prevention (marginal significance at p=0.07)

16. Discussion: HIV/AIDS knowledge
Participants ages were 2.4 times more likely to answer HIV knowledge questions correctly than younger participants (17-24)
The p value was <.05 for all this results

17. Discussion: stigma
Participants ages and 36-older were 2.3 and 1.9 times correspondingly more likely to answer correctly HIV-stigma related questions than younger participants (17-24).
Males were 49% more likely to answer correctly HIV-stigma related questions than females.
Participants who had been tested for HIV in the past were 38% more likely to answer correctly HIV-stigma related questions than the respondents who have never been tested.
The p value was <.05 for all this results

18. Discussion: prevention
Participants ages and 36-older were 3.8 and 1.9 times correspondingly more likely to answer correctly HIV-prevention related questions than younger participants (17-24).
Participants who were familiar with female condoms were nearly 2 times (1.8) more likely to answer correctly HIV-prevention related questions than participants who were unfamiliar with a female condom.
The p value was <.05 for all this results

19. Discussion: transmission
Participants ages were nearly 2 times (1.7) more likely to answer correctly HIV-transmission related questions than younger participants (17-24).
Participants that have been tested for HIV were over 2 times (2.2) more likely to answer correctly HIV-transmission related questions than those who have never been tested.
The p value was <.05 for all this results

20. Limitations Typical limitations of self reported data
Sampling non-randomized
Double entries
Limited generalizability
Mostly Females (75%)
Relatively small sample (N=376)

21. In spite the limitations…
Social work & public health policy
Health behavior approach to Hispanic serving colleges
Social work intervention
Risky health behaviors approach in universities
More college and high school education
Attitudinal changes programs
Awareness for students
Future Research
Multiple health behavior issues
Longitudinal approach- development of programs
Please feel free to change this ones. & re-send me the comments