Discrimination and sexual risk among Caribbean Latinx young adults

Bibliographic Data

ID12554530
AuthorsAngie Denisse Otiniano Verissimo (0000-0003-4764-2935, Department of Health Science, California State University, San Bernardino, CA, USA, corresponding author), Typhanye V Dyer (0000-0002-8493-5772, University of Maryland, College Park), Typhanye Penniman Dyer (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), R Friedman (0000-0003-2083-1226, National Development and Research Institutes), Gilbert Gee (0000-0002-1716-9465, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Year2018
Volume25
Issue5
Pages639-652
Publication date2018-03-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEthnicity and Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1355-7858 • E-ISSN: 1465-3419
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13557858.2018.1444148
PMID29495893
OpenAlexW2789792039
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited60

Objectives: Discrimination, such as being treated unfairly due to race, contributes to stress. Individuals may cope with this by engaging in risky behaviors. Consistent with this premise, prior studies found that discrimination is associated with substance use. Research has also shown that sex while 'high' on alcohol and drugs is associated with increased risk for HIV and other STIs. The present study examines the relationship between discrimination and sexual risk. We investigate whether discrimination is associated with sex while high on alcohol and drugs. Design: Analyses focus on a sample of 356 Caribbean Diasporic young adults, primarily Caribbean Latinx, aged 18 to 25 who participated in the Drug Use and HIV Risk among Youth Survey carried out from 1997 to 2000 in Brooklyn, New York. Logistic regression examined the association between self-reported discrimination and sex while high. Results: More than half (52.3%) of respondents reported moderate discrimination. Sex while high was also reported: 35.7% for alcohol, 43.3% for marijuana, and 32.6% for heroin/cocaine. Discrimination was associated with increased risk of sex while high on (1) marijuana and (2) heroin/cocaine, but was not with alcohol. Conclusions: Discrimination may be a risk factor for engaging in sex while high on drugs, which may put individuals at risk for HIV as well as other STIs . Future research should explore relationships between discrimination and sex while high on alcohol and drugs among various racial/ethnic groups and Diasporas, while also assessing how this relationship may contribute to HIV incidence

Caribbean region · Geography · Latin Americans · Political science · Sociology · Young adult · Demography · Medicine · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Sex work and related issues · Gerontology

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