HIV Testing and Mistaken Beliefs about Immigration Laws. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2019 Aug;6(4):668-675
Date
02/07/2019Pubmed ID
30725380DOI
10.1007/s40615-019-00565-0Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85061194653 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 11 CitationsAbstract
Evidence suggests that migrants may underutilize USA health care because of misconceptions about immigration-related consequences of health care use. This study aimed to explore whether common misconceptions about the immigration consequences of seeking health care, receiving an HIV test, and being diagnosed with HIV were associated with participant self-report of never having received an HIV test. The study sample comprised 297 adult, sexually active, documented and undocumented Spanish-speaking Latino migrants. Participants completed a cross-sectional survey via ACASI. In multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables and HIV stigma, misconceptions about laws emerged as a strong predictor of never having received an HIV test (p < .001). Associations between participants' endorsement of misconceptions and their HIV testing history suggest that incorrect perceptions of laws do deter some subgroups of USA Latino migrants from HIV testing. Identifying misconceptions about negative immigration consequences of engaging in important health behaviors should be a community health research priority.
Author List
Galletly CL, Lechuga J, Glasman LR, DiFranceisco W, Broaddus MR, Dickson-Gomez JB, McAuliffe TL, Vega M, LeGrand S, Mena CA, Barlow ML, Montenegro JIAuthors
Michelle R. Broaddus PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinWayne J. DiFranceisco Research Scientist II in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Carol L. Galletly JD, PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Laura R. Glasman PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Timothy L. McAuliffe PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAge Factors
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emigrants and Immigrants
Emigration and Immigration
Female
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Self Report
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Undocumented Immigrants
