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Diabetes disproportionately affects individuals with lower income in the U.S. (CDC, 2012). Specifically the control of diabetes through self-management has been found to be sub-par and an important contributor to complications (Seligman, Davis, Schillinger, & Wolf, 2010). People experiencing homelessness also experience barriers. One such group is homeless veterans who have diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate self-management behaviors and knowledge regarding diabetes among homeless military veterans in order to establish a baseline of knowledge, self-management behaviors, attitudes, and barriers. A cross-sectional convenience sample of 27 homeless military veterans at a local shelter completed face-to-face structured survey interviews. Blood glucose monitoring behaviors were adequate but foot and eye care behaviors need improvement. Gaps existed in knowledge and attitudes about diabetes. Barriers such as lack of access to healthy food and lack of knowledge of how to cook limited their ability to self-manage diabetes. Veterans who had higher knowledge scores, and had been diagnosed longer, had higher self-management scores. Findings from this study help to inform the existing need for health educators to engage with veterans diagnosed with diabetes to improve health outcomes.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess potential relationships among reproductive health knowledge, preventive health behaviors, perceived severity and risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and sexually transmitted infections and selected demographical variables and characteristics related to acculturation among Latina immigrants. Methods: A total of 204 Latinas from a Midwestern city in the United States consented to participate in the study. Health interviews were conducted using semistructured interviews and convenience sampling. Interviews were conducted in the participants' choice of language by trained bilingual administrators at a variety of Latino associated locations. Results: Characteristics associated with acculturation, such as English skill, play a role in preventive health behaviors--in this case, self breast exams and likelihood of getting Pap tests. Perception of risk and severity may be affected by acculturation characteristics such as barriers to access as well as perception of severity which appear to be higher among Latinas with lower education levels. Conclusion: Culturally appropriate efforts to assess the health needs of emerging Latino communities will contribute to preventive health education for women. (Contains 3 tables.)

Background: Latinos experience disproportionate negative health status and health care access. Expanding understanding of factors impacting Latino immigrant health is imperative. Purpose: This study identified health-seeking behaviors among Latinas in a large Midwestern city with rapid immigrant population growth. Health-seeking behaviors like frequency of care, type of health care provider (HCP) sought, and reasons for seeking care were explored. Barriers to health care access and their frequency were identified. Additionally, interactions between demographics, health-seeking behaviors and health care access barriers were explored. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 204 Latinas by trained culturally competent and bilingual interviewers. Results: Most reported moderate to good health. Foreign born Latinas reported lower overall health. Nearly half had experienced difficulty obtaining health care services. Leading access barriers were: cost, communication issues, and lack of insurance. Those reporting difficulty had: significantly lower education and income levels, lower ability for self-sufficiency, less likelihood of having legal status, and more likelihood of being unemployed. Lack of Latino HCPs and cultural insensitivity by HCPs were reported as barriers. Discussion: Incongruities in access to care underscore the importance for novel interventions aimed at reducing health care disparities. Findings emphasize the need for tailored outreach programs that address barriers and that are effective in increasing Latina participation in preventive health care. Continued assessment of acculturation on health-seeking behaviors among Latinas is clearly warranted, as it can have a profound impact on their health seeking behaviors. Translation to Health Education Practice: The continuation of efforts to decrease all health disparities is discussed with emphasis on giving attention to the specific needs of emerging populations for culturally appropriate and effective health care options. (Contains 6 tables.)

This study investigated sexuality topics discussed by parents, sources of sexuality education, sexual risk behaviors, and attitudes about who should educate children about sexuality among a sample of 204 adult Latinas. Nearly half of sexually active women (having ever had sex) reported condom use and 36.7% reported discussing sexual history with new sexual partners. Self-discovery, friends and media were the most commonly reported sources of sexuality education. Almost 60% of participants thought that both parents and teachers should be responsible for their children's sexuality education. Lower education and lower acculturation were related to reporting peers and media as primary sources of sexuality education. Participants whose parents discussed at least one sexuality related topic with them reported higher frequency of condom use. (Contains 5 tables.)

The relationships among acculturation, health protective sexual communication, and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors of Hispanic women are examined. Respondents represented 14 Latin American countries, a mean age of 29.5 years, and relatively low education and income levels. A significant correlation was found between higher non-Hispanic acculturation level and higher sexual communication with new partners. Higher non-Hispanic acculturation levels were also correlated with higher number of sexual partners in the prior 12 months. The higher the score for health protective sexual communication, the higher the reported frequency of condom use with new sexual partners in the past 12 months. Given the low number of sexual partners, HIV/AIDS risk for this group of women appears to be related to not knowing whether their partners had other sexual partners and to low frequency of condom use. Implications for health education are discussed. (Contains 4 tables.)

The article presents pilot participatory needs assessment, using Photovoice to engage a critical dialogue with preadolescent Latina girls about their perceptions of health and immediate health concerns. Seven Latina girls participated in the study and held a photography exhibition for the community to show their photographs and quotes from their discussions. The study also conducted a needs assessment, focusing on the voices and needs of the girls, to establish successful and cost-efficient programs and interventions specifically suited to the group.