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PurposeYoung adult Latino testicular cancer survivors experience adverse impacts after treatment. We developed Goal-focused Emotion regulation Therapy (GET) to improve distress symptoms, goal navigation skills, and emotion regulation. This open pilot trial extended GET to Latino young adult survivors of testicular cancer and assessed feasibility and tolerability as well as changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes included goal navigation, emotion regulation, and components of hope-related goal processes (i.e., agency and pathway mapping). To assess the extent to which GET is culturally congruent or in need of adaptation, the influence of simpatía and acculturative stress were also examined.MethodsThirty-five eligible young adult (age 18-39) survivors treated with chemotherapy were enrolled and assessed at baseline. Study acceptability, tolerability, and therapeutic alliance were examined. Preliminary efficacy was evaluated for changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as psychological processes (goal navigation, agency, goal pathway skill, and emotion regulation) from baseline to immediate post- and 3-month post-intervention.ResultsAmong the 35 men assessed at baseline, 54% initiated intervention sessions. Among these, 94.7% completed all study procedures. Helpfulness ratings of intervention components and therapeutic alliance scores were strong. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms from pre- to post-intervention with sustained change at the 3-month follow-up. Favorable patterns of change were also observed in GET-related psychological processes. Simpatía was associated with less depressive symptoms at post-intervention, but not change in anxiety. Acculturative stress was associated with increased anxiety and depressive symptoms over time.ConclusionGET is a feasible and acceptable intervention for reducing adverse outcomes after testicular cancer for young adult Latino men. Results should be considered preliminary but suggest meaningful changes in emotional and psychological outcomes.

In the United States, immigrant Latino men who have sex with men (ILMSM) are, compared to white MSM, disproportionately burdened by HIV and lack access to highly effective HIV prevention strategies, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Qualitative research centered on exploring barriers that ILMSM experience in accessing PrEP and other sexual services is extremely limited, despite a high prevalence of HIV in this population. In this study, a purposive sample of ILMSM (n = 25) was recruited to participate in a semi-structured in-depth interview to identify the distinct barriers and facilitators ILMSM experience in accessing sexual health services given their complex intersectional identities of being an immigrant, Latino, and a sexual minority man. Using a thematic analysis approach, nine themes were generated from the data representing barriers and facilitators. Barriers included: (1) cost and a lack of health insurance, (2) complexity of PrEP assistance programs; (3) challenges related to the immigrant experience; (4) impact of gay stigma; and (5) communication challenges. Facilitators included: (1) improving affordability and accessibility of PrEP services; (2) receiving services from LGBT- or Latine LGBT-centered clinics; (3) receiving services from medical providers who are gay and/or Latino; and (4) providing targeted community outreach, education, and promotion of PrEP to ILMSM. While many of the barriers illuminated in the study were structural (e.g., cost and lack of health insurance), and not easy to overcome, the findings highlight a range of facilitators that can support access to PrEP and other sexual health services for ILMSM. Considering these findings, we suggest strategies that may enhance access to needed sexual health services among ILMSM.

Latina women living in the USA experience disproportionately higher rates of psychological distress compared to their non-Latina White counterparts. Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy can contribute to intergenerational mental health disparities. Through this pathway, mothers experiences, environments, and exposures (henceforth exposures) during pregnancy become biologically embodied and can negatively affect the fetus and life-long developmental trajectories of her child. One of the exposures that can affect mother-offspring dyads is the neighborhood. With the goal of integrating anthropological and sociological theories to explain mental health disparities among pregnant Latina women, we explored how perceptions of neighbor attitudes may influence mental health during pregnancy. We analyzed self-reported responses from 239 pregnant Latina women in Southern California (131 foreign-born, 108 US-born) on their mental health and perceived attitudes of their neighbors using multiple linear regression models. Among foreign-born Latina women, living in neighborhoods with more favorable views of Latinos was associated with lower depression scores (pooled β =  - .70, SE = .29, p = .019) and lower pregnancy-related anxiety scores (pooled β =  - .11, SE = .05, p = .021), but greater state anxiety scores (pooled β = .09, SE = .04, p = .021). Among US-born women, there were no associations between neighbor attitudes and mental health. Overall, results suggest that social environments are correlated with mental health and that foreign-born and US-born Latinas have varied mental health experiences in the USA. Our findings highlight the importance of improving aspects of neighborhood cohesion as part of maternal-fetal care management.

The Hispanic/Latino population is one of the largest and most diverse ethnoracial groups in the United States at high risk for dementia. We examined cognitive constructs and associations with subsequent hippocampal volume (HV) and white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV). Participants were from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study (n = 2029). We examined confirmatory factor analysis and longitudinal invariance using neurocognitive scores at Visits 1 (2008-2011) and 2 (2014-2018) and path analyses. We obtained a longitudinally invariant two-factor episodic memory (EM) and working memory (WM) construct. Lower EM profile at both visits was associated with greater WMHV and smaller HV at Visit 2. Lower WM profile at both visits was associated with larger WMHV and smaller HV at Visit 2. Neurocognitive profiles were associated with subsequent neurodegeneration in a sample of Hispanics/Latinos. Identifying neurocognitive risk profiles may lead to early detection and intervention, and significantly impact the course of neurodegeneration.HighlightsCognitive profiles predict brain integrity up to 10 years later.We observed two-factor latent memory constructs and longitudinal invariance.These findings were observed in a Hispanic/Latino cohort.

BackgroundCervical and other vaccine-preventable HPV-associated cancers disproportionately impact Hispanic/Latinos in the USA. HPV vaccine uptake may be impacted by community agreement with common HPV vaccine misperceptions. It is unknown whether Hispanics/Latinos have a greater agreement with these misperceptions relative to non-Hispanic whites.MethodsHPV vaccine misperceptions were assessed through a 12-item Likert scale included in a population health assessment mailed to households in the southwest United States. Linear regression models assessed the association between identifying as Hispanic/Latino and summed misperception score.ResultsAmong the 407 individuals in the analytic sample, 111 (27.3%) were Hispanic/Latino and 296 (72.7%) were non-Hispanic white. On average, Hispanics/Latinos had a 3.03-point higher HPV vaccine misperception sum score relative to non-Hispanic whites, indicating greater agreement with misperceptions (95% confidence interval: 1.16-4.88; p

ObjectiveWe sought to examine the experiences of community partners in a community-academic partnership to promote COVID-19 testing in two majority Latino communities.MethodsWe conducted semistructured, in-depth interviews in English and Spanish with community-based organization leaders and community health workers/promotoras (n = 10) from June to July 2021. Interviews focused on identifying partner roles in planning and testing implementation and evaluating communication among partners. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed in ATLAS.ti version 8.4.5. Analyses involved deductive and inductive approaches to identify key themes.ResultsParticipants described both strengths and challenges to the collaborative approach within each of three core themes: building relationships in the time of COVID-19; uplifting existing community leadership; and commitment of the academic partners and community-based organizations to conduct partnership activities in Spanish.ConclusionCommunity-academic partnerships that invest in strong relationships, community leadership, and a commitment to the community's preferred language offer a promising approach to addressing COVID-19 testing barriers. Findings provide direction for future research on how community members and academic partners can come together to inform strategies to continue addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cerebrovascular and α-synuclein pathologies are frequently observed alongside Alzheimer disease (AD). The heterogeneity of AD necessitates comprehensive approaches to postmortem studies, including the representation of historically underrepresented ethnic groups. In this cohort study, we evaluated small vessel disease pathologies and α-synuclein deposits among Hispanic decedents (HD, n = 92) and non-Hispanic White decedents (NHWD, n = 184) from three Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers: Columbia University, University of California San Diego, and University of California Davis. The study included cases with a pathological diagnosis of Intermediate/High AD based on the National Institute on Aging- Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) and/or NIA-Reagan criteria. A 2:1 random comparison sample of NHWD was frequency-balanced and matched with HD by age and sex. An expert blinded to demographics and center origin evaluated arteriolosclerosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and Lewy bodies/Lewy neurites (LBs/LNs) with a semi-quantitative approach using established criteria. There were many similarities and a few differences among groups. HD showed more severe Vonsattel grading of CAA in the cerebellum (p = 0.04), higher CAA density in the posterior hippocampus and cerebellum (ps = 0.01), and increased LBs/LNs density in the frontal (p = 0.01) and temporal cortices (p = 0.03), as determined by Wilcoxon's test. Ordinal logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and center confirmed these findings except for LBs/LNs in the temporal cortex. Results indicate HD with AD exhibit greater CAA and α-synuclein burdens in select neuroanatomic regions when compared to age- and sex-matched NHWD with AD. These findings aid in the generalizability of concurrent arteriolosclerosis, CAA, and LBs/LNs topography and severity within the setting of pathologically confirmed AD, particularly in persons of Hispanic descent, showing many similarities and a few differences to those of NHW descent and providing insights into precision medicine approaches.

Work has not examined if acculturation or enculturation may predict endorsed benefits, barriers, and intentions to seek mental health services for depression, specifically among Latino students enrolled in a rural and majority Latino immigrant institution of higher education. An improved understanding of factors informing mental health help-seeking is needed to identify possible intervention points to address gaps in accessing depression treatment. Participants (N = 406) read a vignette depicting a person with depressive symptoms. Participants were asked if they would seek help for depression if in the situation described in the vignette. Participants provided text responses about their preferences for managing depression symptoms and their mental health help-seeking history. Additionally, participants completed a self-report depression symptom screener, demographic surveys, acculturation assessment, and questionnaires on perceived benefits and barriers to seeking mental health services. Path analysis was used to test the link between acculturation status and intent to seek services for depression, with benefits and barriers as mediators. The results revealed that higher perceived benefits and lower barriers were directly associated with greater intentions to seek help. Furthermore, an indirect effect of acculturation on help-seeking intentions via higher perceived benefits of seeking care was observed. These findings persisted after controlling for age, gender, depression, and history of seeking care for depression. Future work should test the replicability of this finding with diverse college students living in predominantly immigrant communities. Universities might consider tailoring outreach initiatives to provide information on the range and accessibility of mental health services, the location of mental health service centers, and the procedures for accessing such services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We explore workplace sexual harassment (WSH) myth acceptance, bystander discomfort, and beliefs among farmworkers in California, USA, and Michoacán, Mexico. Surveys were conducted with the guidance of community advisory boards among 197 farmworkers (38 men and 59 women in California; 40 men and 60 women in Michoacán). Men and women in Michoacán had similar discomfort and myth acceptance. California women reported more discomfort than men but were similar in myth acceptance. The highest levels of myth acceptance ranged from 66 to 88%. The majority (85–90%) believed that something must be done to prevent WSH in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Santa Maria and Guadalupe are neighboring cities in northern Santa Barbara County that have a lower socioeconomic profile than the county overall, are >75% Latino, and have up to 32,000 residents who identify as Indigenous, primarily Mixtec-speaking people from southern Mexico. We conducted a mixed-methods community needs assessment to identify unique health challenges and barriers that Latinx and Mixtec individuals faced. From January to April 2021, targeted and general recruitment approaches were used to recruit a convenience sample of 159 participants (74% Latinx, 72% female, mean age 41.3 years) to complete modified long- and short-form versions of a community health concerns survey. Fifty-four completed the 40-item form and 102 completed the 19-item form. Of these, 24 individuals who expressed interest in further participation took part in structured, open-ended interviews. Among the key issues raised in surveys and interviews were housing, healthcare, and access to recreational resources. However, perspectives and priorities differed depending on the form of data collection (closed-ended survey vs. open-ended interview). For example, interviews echoed survey respondents' dissatisfaction regarding lack of safe and affordable housing but added perspective on housing conditions and vulnerability to landlords' decisions. In interviews, expanding existing resources and mobilizing as a community were noted as potential solutions; existing policies, language, and lack of interest by those in power were raised as significant barriers. Our assessment suggests that Santa Maria and Guadalupe communities face concerns about housing, healthcare, and access to recreational resources. Government, community, and healthcare sectors should focus on addressing these basic health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work underscores the importance of understanding engagement in respectability politics as a response to racialization and structural inequalities. Drawing on fieldwork and interviews with Puerto Ricans in a Florida community who hail from the Northeastern United States and the island (N = 30), intragroup tensions can be seen in the areas of language, status, and culture. Groups’ experiences with racialization in their communities of origin prior to arrival, coupled with their interactions with white co-residents in Florida, play a role in the expectations they hold in these arenas, and subsequently, the way they perform respectability. Over time, adherence to respectability ideology becomes habitus, and existing community members expect newcomers to conform or risk threatening the perceived good-earned status of the group, relegating them to threat narratives past. As (im)migration to the U.S. is increasing for many groups, understanding within-group tensions becomes increasingly important, particularly if coalescence is the goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch‐up (ABC) is an evidence‐based early intervention promoting attachment security and self‐regulation by enhancing parental sensitivity. When scaling up an evidence‐based intervention to the community, it is essential to consider families’ preferences and cultural values to ensure cultural appropriateness, while maintaining fidelity to the intervention's core components. In this article, we aimed to test the effectiveness of ABC in improving parental sensitivity when implemented in Spanish at a community level in the USA. The effectiveness of ABC when implemented in Spanish in the community was assessed through pre‐post changes in observed parental sensitivity in 79 Latine families with children ages 6 months to 4 years. Parental sensitivity increased from pre‐ to post‐test, with a similar effect size to previous studies (d = .67). Results and practice implications are discussed, highlighting the importance of the support to providers reaching families of diverse origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the United States, breast cancer remains one of the most diagnosed cancers among females and remains the second leading cause of cancer death. In addition, breast cancer is most likely diagnosed at an advanced stage among Hispanic females in the United States due to lower mammogram utilization. Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multilevel, multicomponent community-based breast cancer screening intervention called the Breast Cancer Education Screening and NavigaTion (BEST) program. The primary outcome was the completion of a screening mammogram 4 months post-intervention. Method: We used a pragmatic approach for evaluation, utilizing a quasi-experimental delayed intervention design. We recruited women from the community aged between 50 and 75, uninsured or underinsured, and overdue for screening. Results: Six hundred participants were recruited (300 intervention and 300 control). Among completers, the screening rate was 97% in the intervention group and 4.4% in the control group (RR = 22.2, 95% CI: 12.5–39.7, p <.001). In multivariable analysis, age ≥ 65 (RR = 1.29, p =.047), perceived benefits (RR = 1.04, p =.026), curability (RR = 1.24, p <.001), subjective norms (RR = 1.14, p =.014), and fatalism (RR =.96, p =.004) remained significantly associated with screening outcome. Conclusion: A multicomponent, bilingual, and culturally tailored intervention effectively facilitated breast cancer screening completion in an underserved population of Hispanic women. Individuals with improved screening outcomes were more likely to have higher positive beliefs. Our study has important implications regarding using multicomponent interventions in increasing breast cancer screening completion in poorly screened populations. It also highlights differences in health belief motivation for breast cancer screening completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Puerto Rican households often face elevated rates of food insecurity. Frequently, households experiencing food insecurity turn to federal and emergency nutrition assistance for urgent or prolonged aid. This study analyzes factors influencing food insecurity and food assistance program involvement among Puerto Ricans in Holyoke, Massachusetts, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using a combination of community-based participatory recruitment, purposive sampling, and web-based tools, we collected 284 survey responses. Our paper employed Pearson's chi-square, logistic regression, and hierarchical linear models to assess relationships between demographic and household attributes and food access outcomes. Results: Variables such as having children in the household and age significantly influenced food relief participation and food insecurity outcomes. Puerto Rican heritage and low educational attainment were strong predictors of obtaining federal food aid. Low-income participants disproportionately faced food shortages and depended on emergency food initiatives. Our findings indicate that demographic and household factors significantly influence food insecurity and accessibility. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the pandemic made it challenging for households to obtain consistent, safe, and affordable nourishment. The impacts were unequally spread; hence, Puerto Rican communities and low-income groups were most affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study focuses on Latino fathers and investigates the role that cultural concepts and fatherhood identity play in the stigma associated with having a child with a disability. Disability stigma is a widely held concept that acknowledges the role of culture; however, there is a lack of information on Latino fathers. Using a panel survey provider a US cross‐sectional survey was completed by 92 Latino fathers who had a child with a disability. Multiple regression was used to investigate the relationship of cultural Latino constructs (personalismo, machismo, caballerismo and respeto) and fatherhood identity on the stigma experiences of Latino fathers who have a child with a disability while controlling for the child's age and acculturation (R2 = 0.43, p < 0.001). Latino fathers with higher levels of personalismo (p = 0.05), and fatherhood identity (p < 0.001) had lower levels of stigma. Latino fathers with high levels of machismo had high levels of stigma (p < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between caballerismo and respeto towards stigma. Specific recommendations for Latino fathers include (1) the development of personalismo by focusing on the child–parent relationship; (2) a re‐frame of machismo to focus instead on caballerismo characteristics to de‐emphasize harmful effects on stigma experiences; and (3) heightening the identity as a father as a protective mechanism to strengthen resilience from stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Methods:Results:Conclusion:Identifying factors impacting vaccination and testing for COVID-19 is crucial to reduce health disparities, especially for rural/agricultural, low access and high poverty Latino communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This study examined differences in perceived barriers and facilitators (such as values, beliefs, and concerns) to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and testing intention by vaccination status and testing hesitancy among rural Latino community members in Southwest Florida.Rural Latino community members (N = 493) completed a cross-sectional survey in Spanish (86.0%) or English (14.0%) on perceived COVID-19 vaccine/testing barriers and facilitators, as well as demographics, mental health, medical history, health perceptions, and health literacy.At the time of the survey, approximately 43% of participants were unvaccinated and 46.4% were testing hesitant. Significantly more vaccinated participants acknowledged keeping their family (d = .25), community (d = .27), and themselves (d = .22) safe as facilitators to vaccination (ps < .001). Among the unvaccinated participants, the most common concerns for getting vaccinated were side effects (d = −.53) and lack of knowledge about how the vaccine works (d = −.35, ps < .001). Testing hesitant participants reported concerns including not knowing where to get tested (d = −.25, p = 0.01) and less confidence in a positive test result (d = −.40, p < 0.001). Doctors and faith leaders were ranked as the most trusted information sources across groups. In logistic regression models, vaccination was linked to age, gender, education, and protecting others, while concerns about needles and side effects reduced odds; testing was driven by education, anxiety, hope, and safety concerns.Promoting family and community safety may be effective facilitators influencing vaccine and testing intention in rural Latino communities. Enhanced education by trusted information sources, such as doctors and faith leaders may alleviate associated concerns. Our findings may inform actions for future pandemics. Further studies should determine the generalizability of our findings across other rural migrant communities and other vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a localized or diffuse autoimmune fibro-inflammatory condition that can affect any organ. The literature is sparse on IgG4-RD in the Latino population. This is a case report of a Latino male diagnosed with IgG4-related pancreatitis presenting as a mass. Our 40-year-old Latino male patient presented with diarrhea and epigastric discomfort progressing to jaundice and pruritus. He had associated elevations in liver enzymes, antinuclear antibody, and IgG4. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a lobulated pancreatic head mass with common bile duct (CBD) narrowing. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of the pancreas revealed no malignancy, and the patient underwent CBD stenting through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The patient demonstrated a favorable response to systemic glucocorticoid therapy with resolution of his symptoms and normalization of his liver function tests. Coronavirus disease-2019 infection during treatment had no impact on the outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although one of the fastest-growing homeschool subgroups, there are no empirical studies specifically considering Hispanic/Latino/a/x/e homeschool families. This study asks Hispanic and Latina parents to describe what homeschooling means to them. Using phenomenology, intersectionality, and community cultural wealth, we interviewed 18 mothers across the nation. We find that preservation or reclamation of cultural heritage is the most meaningful result of the decision to homeschool. Specific aspects of culture found are family cohesion, familial language, and living the values of a strong work ethic and the need to be resourceful. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavior problems are common among young autistic children and are related to elevated parenting stress levels among their caregivers. However, previous studies of this population have rarely examined relations between child behavior problems and parenting stress at a daily level and, to date, have not examined how these relations may differ for Latino families. Using a day-to-day, within-person design, this study bidirectionally examined these temporal relations among 70 families of autistic children (ages 3–5 years, 74.3% male, 49% Latino parents) who participated in a 14-day daily-diary study. Parent-reported child behavior problem severity and parenting stress were measured daily. Constructs were partitioned into their between- and within-person components and analyzed using time-lagged MLM models. At the between-person level, greater reported child behavior problem severity, relative to the group average, was positively associated with next-day parenting stress and vice versa. This relationship was moderated by Latino ethnicity, such that the positive relationship between reported child behavior problem severity and next-day parenting stress was weaker for Latino (versus non-Latino) families. These bidirectional relationships differed at the within-person level, such that, unexpectedly, greater-than-usual parenting stress, compared to parents' own average, was negatively associated with next-day child behavior severity. Findings underscore the value of using daily diary methodology to decompose between- and within-person effects, and reveal potential intervention targets to improve parent and child functioning, particularly among minoritized families of autistic children. Highlights: This study examined daily within-person changes in parenting stress and behavior problems in Latino and non-Latino families of autistic children. Parent-reported child behavior problem severity and parenting stress were positively and bidirectionally associated at the between-person level. The effect of child behavior problem severity on next-day parenting stress was weaker among Latino (vs. non-Latino) families. Surprisingly, at the within-person level, higher parenting stress than usual, relative to one's own average, was related to fewer reported next-day child behavior problems. Findings underscore the importance of using daily diary methodology to decompose between- and within-person effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease following Alzheimer's disease. Nearly 30 causative genes have been identified for PD and related disorders. However, most of these genes were identified in European‐derived families, and little is known about their role in Latin American populations. Objectives: Our goal was to assess the spectrum and frequency of pathogenic variants in known PD genes in familial PD patients from Latin America. Methods: We selected 335 PD patients with a family history of PD from the Latin American Research Consortium on the Genetics of PD. We capture‐sequenced the coding regions of 26 genes related to neurodegenerative parkinsonism. Of the 335 PD patients, 324 had sufficient sequencing coverage to be analyzed. Results: We identified pathogenic variants in 41 individuals (12.7%) in FBXO7, GCH1, LRRK2, PARK7, PINK1, PLA2G6, PRKN, SNCA, and TARDBP, GBA1 risk variants in 25 individuals (7.7%), and variants of uncertain significance in another 24 individuals (7.4%) in ATP13A2, ATP1A3, DNAJC13, DNAJC6, GBA1, LRKK2, PINK1, VPS13C, and VPS35. Of the 70 unique variants identified, 19 were more frequent in Latin Americans than in any other population. Conclusions: This is the first screening of known PD genes in a large cohort of patients with familial PD from Latin America. There were substantial differences in the spectrum of variants observed in comparison to previous findings from PD families of European origin. Our data provide further evidence that differences exist between the genetic architecture of PD in Latinos and European‐derived populations. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latino health and well-being are crucial to the growth and vibrancy of rural areas across the United States, particularly at a time when the demographics of many rural communities are transitioning from minority Latino to majority Latino populations. This manuscript details the findings of a study that explored the health and healthcare benefit status of 524 Latino households in rural Indiana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Via 20-minute, door-to-door interviews conducted by bilingual researchers, survey participants answered questions about access to healthcare services and benefits, dietary and safety habits, medical issues, and vaccination status. The study found that slightly more than half of those surveyed were enrolled in healthcare benefit plans; approximately a third were unsatisfied with their health/health status; almost two-thirds had not received a flu shot and were eating fast food/processed food on a daily basis. Top health concerns reported included: stress (52%), vision problems (34%), neck and back pain (30%), headaches/migraines (28%), anxiety and depression (28%) and weight problems (26%). The study also discovered that half of the respondents could not identify a primary healthcare provider (PCP) by name and that pregnant women faced a lack of resources for maternal health in the county where the study was conducted. The results indicate that Latinos in rural communities continue to endure significant health issues and barriers to healthcare. The study provides an excellent model of how a rural community can monitor the health of its residents, which can inform health interventions for underserved populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals living with cancer and survivors of cancer who self-identify as Hispanic experience higher pain burden and greater barriers to pain management compared with their non-Hispanic counterparts. The Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO guideline recommends acupuncture and massage for cancer pain management. However, Hispanic individuals' expectations about these modalities remain under-studied and highlight a potential barrier to treatment utilization in this population. We conducted a subgroup analysis of baseline data from two randomized clinical trials to evaluate ethnic differences in treatment expectations about integrative pain treatment modalities among Hispanic and non-Hispanic cancer patients and survivors of cancer. The Mao Expectancy of Treatment Effects (METE) instrument was used to measure treatment expectancy for electro-acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and massage therapy. Results of this study demonstrated that Hispanic participants reported greater expectation of benefit from electroacupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and massage (all P < 0.01). After controlling for age, gender, race, and education, Hispanic ethnicity remained significantly associated with greater expectation of benefit from integrative therapies for pain (coef.=1.47, 95% CI, 0.67–2.27). Non-white race (coef.=1.04, 95% CI, 0.42–1.65), no college education (coef.=1.16, 95% CI, 0.59–1.74), and female gender (coef.=0.94, 95% CI, 0.38–1.50) were also associated with a greater expectation of benefit from integrative therapies. Pain management should be informed by a shared decision-making approach that aligns treatment expectancy with treatment selections to optimize outcomes. Compared with non-Hispanic participants, Hispanic individuals reported higher expectation of benefit from acupuncture and massage, highlighting the potential role for integrative therapies in addressing ethnic pain disparities. Trial Registration NCT02979574 NCT04095234. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Studied a sample of 152 low-income Latino parents and their kindergarten children. • Examined unique relations between food practices and children's academic skills. • Food sharing practices positively related to children's literacy skills. • Food practices are part of the constellation of Latino home learning activities. Latino parents support children's academic skills through their involvement in daily living activities. Prior work has focused on conventional literacy (e.g., book reading) and numeracy activities (e.g., teaching numbers). Less-visible home activities that are high-priority, high-value cultural practices in Latino communities are food sharing (e.g., eating together) and food-related household chores (e.g., grocery shopping together). This study examined whether food sharing and food-related household chores contributed to children's academic skills beyond conventional literacy and numeracy activities, in a sample of 152 Latino parents from low-income households and their kindergarten children (M age = 67.24 months; 51.32% female). At the beginning of kindergarten, parents completed a home learning activities questionnaire and children's literacy and math skills were assessed. We found that food sharing, but not food-related household chores, positively related to children's literacy skills (vocabulary), beyond conventional literacy and numeracy activities. Food sharing and food-related household chores did not relate to children's math skills. Findings suggest the need to consider food sharing and food-related household chores as part of the constellation of Latino home learning activities that are likely to support children's academic skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Faith-based interventions are promising for promoting healthy behaviors among adults, but their ripple effects on participants' children are unknown. This study is one of the first to assess the effects of a faith-based multilevel obesity intervention on adult participants' children. Methods: We analyzed quantitative data from a cluster randomized controlled trial with two African American and two Latino churches in South Los Angeles, California, which invited adult participants to enroll one child (5-17 years) in a sub-study. At baseline and 6-7 months follow-up, parents completed a child health survey, which included the family nutrition and physical activity screening tool, and child height and weight were measured (n = 50). Results: Results from linear regression models showed children of intervention participants, compared to control, had significantly better dietary patterns at follow-up. Conclusions: Findings suggest the health benefits of a faith-based multilevel obesity intervention for adults can extend to children and may help address obesity disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rich and diverse heritage of Latin American people contributes to a large variety of physical features, which translates to a patient population with a range of motivations for seeking cosmetic procedures and unique perspectives that influence their aesthetic preferences. As there is no one standard of beauty, it is important for physicians to understand the various factors that influence their patients' perceptions of beauty and desires to seek cosmetic treatment, especially because patient preference may differ from the physician perspective. Physicians in Latin America must consider the demographic, ethnic, and cultural factors that influence their patients to ensure culturally sensitive treatment approaches, natural-looking results, and patient satisfaction. This review includes a discussion of published literature, combined with the expert opinion of the authors, to provide a detailed description of the elements that impact aesthetic perceptions of patients living across the Latin American diaspora and highlights important gaps in research for future studies to address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake variation remains a significant barrier to overcoming the spread of COVID-19. Individual beliefs/attitudes about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine vary significantly across generations due to personal experiences, access to accurate information, education levels, political beliefs, and trust in healthcare systems. Methods: This analysis used data from the baseline visit of Project 2VIDA!, a cohort of Americans of Mexican descent (AoDM) and African American individuals (n = 1052) in San Diego, CA, along the U.S.–Mexico border region. The survey assessed sociodemographics, healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, and trust in public health information/SARS-CoV-2 prevention. We conducted a logistic regression involving AoDM individuals to identify generational factors associated with completing the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series. Results: The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that Generation X (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.33–0.82), Millennials (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.14–0.41), and Generation Z (OR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.05–0.22) were less likely to complete the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series when compared to Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. Conclusions: Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 testing and trust in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were significantly more likely to complete the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series. Efforts to address vaccine series completion should be tailored to the specific concerns and motivations of different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride hesitancy is a growing public health challenge and interventions to address it may need to be tailored for minoritized subgroups to address oral health inequities. The goals of this qualitative study were to investigate the extent to which an existing conceptual model on topical fluoride hesitancy is applicable to Latino parents and whether applicability differed between Spanish-speaking Latino (SL) and English-speaking Latino (EL) parents. We conducted semi-structured one-on-one interviews with non-Latino English-speaking parents (N = 50), SL parents (n = 8), and EL parents (n = 8). We coded the transcripts deductively and compared our findings both qualitatively and quantitatively to an existing model on topical fluoride hesitancy comprising 21 categories classified into six domains. We compared frequencies across model domains and categories for Latino versus non-Latino parents as well as for SL versus EL parents. Latino parents were represented across all six domains and 21 categories of the conceptual model. Comparing Latino and non-Latino parents, representation was similar across Domains 1 to 3 (necessity, chemicals, and harm); Latino parents were more highly represented in Domains 4 to 6 (uncertainty, pressure, and choice) compared with non-Latino parents. A larger proportion of EL parents thought a healthy diet was more important than fluoride (Category 1d) and a larger proportion of SL parents felt they did not know enough about fluoride (Category 4a). An existing conceptual model on topical fluoride hesitancy was generally a good fit for SL and EL parents. However, differential representation across model categories suggests that fluoride-related communication and intervention approaches may need to be tailored to Latino parents based on language preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project compared the effectiveness of two evidence‐based models of culturally competent diabetes health promotion: the diabetes self‐management support empowerment model (DSMS) and the chronic care model (CCM). Our primary outcome was improvement in patient capacity for diabetes self‐management as measured by the diabetes knowledge questionnaire (DKQ) and the patient activation measure (PAM). Our secondary outcome was patient success at diabetes self‐management as measured by improvement in A1c, depression scores using the PHQ‐9, and body mass index (BMI). We also gathered data on the cultural competence of the program using the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Cultural Competence Set. We compared patient outcomes in two existing sites in Albuquerque, New Mexico that serve a large population of Latinx diabetes patients from low‐income households. Participants were enrolled as dyads—a patient participant (n = 226) and a social support participant (n = 226). Outcomes over time and by program were analyzed using longitudinal linear mixed modeling, adjusted for patient participant demographic characteristics and other potential confounding covariates. Secondary outcomes were also adjusted for potential confounders. Interactions with both time and program helped to assess outcomes. This study did not find a difference between the two sites with respect to the primary outcome measures and only one of the three secondary outcomes showed differential results. The main difference between programs was that depression decreased more for CCM than for DSMS. An exploratory, subgroup analysis revealed that at CCM, patient participants with a very high A1c (>10) demonstrated a clinically meaningful decrease. However, given the higher cultural competence rating for the CCM, statistically significant improvement in depression, and the importance of social support to the patients, results suggest that a culturally and contextually situated diabetes self‐management and education program design may deliver benefit for patients, especially for patients with higher A1c levels. Key Points: The team was interdisciplinary.The information presented describes results of both qualitative and quantitative data and involves interpretations that are interdisciplinary in nature.The study design used methods from multiple disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Santa Maria and Guadalupe are neighboring cities in northern Santa Barbara County that have a lower socioeconomic profile than the county overall, are >75% Latino, and have up to 32,000 residents who identify as Indigenous, primarily Mixtec-speaking people from southern Mexico. We conducted a mixed-methods community needs assessment to identify unique health challenges and barriers that Latinx and Mixtec individuals faced. From January to April 2021, targeted and general recruitment approaches were used to recruit a convenience sample of 159 participants (74% Latinx, 72% female, mean age 41.3 years) to complete modified long- and short-form versions of a community health concerns survey. Fifty-four completed the 40-item form and 102 completed the 19-item form. Of these, 24 individuals who expressed interest in further participation took part in structured, open-ended interviews. Among the key issues raised in surveys and interviews were housing, healthcare, and access to recreational resources. However, perspectives and priorities differed depending on the form of data collection (closed-ended survey vs. open-ended interview). For example, interviews echoed survey respondents’ dissatisfaction regarding lack of safe and affordable housing but added perspective on housing conditions and vulnerability to landlords’ decisions. In interviews, expanding existing resources and mobilizing as a community were noted as potential solutions; existing policies, language, and lack of interest by those in power were raised as significant barriers. Our assessment suggests that Santa Maria and Guadalupe communities face concerns about housing, healthcare, and access to recreational resources. Government, community, and healthcare sectors should focus on addressing these basic health needs.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a localized or diffuse autoimmune fibro-inflammatory condition that can affect any organ. The literature is sparse on IgG4-RD in the Latino population. This is a case report of a Latino male diagnosed with IgG4-related pancreatitis presenting as a mass. Our 40-year-old Latino male patient presented with diarrhea and epigastric discomfort progressing to jaundice and pruritus. He had associated elevations in liver enzymes, antinuclear antibody, and IgG4. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a lobulated pancreatic head mass with common bile duct (CBD) narrowing. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of the pancreas revealed no malignancy, and the patient underwent CBD stenting through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The patient demonstrated a favorable response to systemic glucocorticoid therapy with resolution of his symptoms and normalization of his liver function tests. Coronavirus disease-2019 infection during treatment had no impact on the outcomes.

Ada Regina Trindade de Almeida,1 Patricia E Garcia,2 Raul Banegas,3 Silvia Zimbres,4 Carolina Martinez,5 Jan Frolik,6 Camila Cazerta de Paula Eduardo7 1Clínica Dermatológica, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Private Practice, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; 3Banegas Estética Médica, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 4Clinica Doux, São Paulo, Brazil; 5Private Practice, Bogotá, Colombia; 6Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, Irvine, CA, USA; 7Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Ada Regina Trindade de Almeida, Clínica Dermatológica, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, Rua Turiassu, 390 - 11 Andar - Cj. 113/114, Perdizes, São Paulo/Sp - Cep, 05005-000, Brazil, Tel +55 11 3864-1816, Email artrindal@uol.com.brAbstract: The rich and diverse heritage of Latin American people contributes to a large variety of physical features, which translates to a patient population with a range of motivations for seeking cosmetic procedures and unique perspectives that influence their aesthetic preferences. As there is no one standard of beauty, it is important for physicians to understand the various factors that influence their patients’ perceptions of beauty and desires to seek cosmetic treatment, especially because patient preference may differ from the physician perspective. Physicians in Latin America must consider the demographic, ethnic, and cultural factors that influence their patients to ensure culturally sensitive treatment approaches, natural-looking results, and patient satisfaction. This review includes a discussion of published literature, combined with the expert opinion of the authors, to provide a detailed description of the elements that impact aesthetic perceptions of patients living across the Latin American diaspora and highlights important gaps in research for future studies to address.Keywords: aging, beauty, ethnicity, Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, physiology

Family rejection has negative health consequences for Latinx sexual minority men (LSMM). However, LSMM often reconcile with their families, a phenomenon cross-sectional studies miss. We analyzed longitudinal data from the Healthy Young Men's Study in Los Angeles. We used individual fixed-effects Poisson regression to model changes over time in the associations among family support, drug use, and depressive symptoms. We found that (1) the initiation of drug use was associated with a 7.2% (Ratio=1.072, 95% CI 1.006 - 1.142, p = 0.03) increase in family support among LSMM who reported high depressive symptoms (depression subscale T-score ≥ 63) in at least one data wave; (2) a 1-unit increase in family support was associated with a 4.7% (RR = ;0.953, 95% CI 0.931 - 0.976, p < 0.001) decrease in the probability of high depressive symptoms; and (3) no significant association between a change in drug use and a change in high depressive symptoms. Over time, LSMM appear to benefit from the health effects of family support associated with Latinx family structures.

The mental health of the United States' Latino population significantly deteriorated during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, and Latino immigrants living in rural areas faced unique vulnerabilities. However, few studies have specifically examined the mental health burden and experiences of rural Latino immigrants during the COVID pandemic. To understand the mental health experiences of first- and second-generation Latinos in rural areas, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 Latino residents of rural California counties during July 2020-February 2021 and screened all respondents for major depression and generalized anxiety symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-2 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD]-2 screeners. We explored the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety in our sample, iteratively analyzed participants' narratives regarding the mental health impact of the pandemic, and used their mental health screener status to contextualize these narratives. Results indicated that nearly all respondents viewed mental health as a major concern, and 34% (n ​= ​12) of respondents screened positive for major depression or generalized anxiety disorder. Respondents connected their mental health concerns to experiences of financial precarity, fear of contracting COVID-19, social isolation, and the challenges of remote schooling. Additional themes emerged around problems accessing the mental health care system, the utility of pre-pandemic mental health services, and using healthy coping mechanisms to alleviate psychological problems. Respondents' narratives tended to focus on the mental health challenges facing their family members, particularly their children. Our findings suggest that mental health intervention models that engage with multiple family members, policies that support infrastructure for encouraging exercise and outdoor activity, and ensuring access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care for Latino communities may be important for protecting population mental health.

We explored whether siblings can be engaged in PrEP promotion. We used the Information-Motivation-Behavior model to develop and conduct surveys and dyadic interviews with Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) and their siblings (n = 31) and three sibling-only focus groups (n = 20). For LMSM, only n = 14 (45%) agreed they would benefit from taking PrEP, yet n = 22 (71%) would take PrEP to make their sibling worry less about them, and n = 23 (74%) requested a PrEP referral. For siblings, n = 20 (65%) believed PrEP would benefit their brother, and n = 19 (95%) in the focus groups said they would take PrEP to help their brother get started. Qualitative results include (1) siblings' support for PrEP use, (2) explicit conversations about sex were not necessary for discussing sexual health, and (3) siblings wanted to understand what they could do to encourage their brother to consider PrEP. We conclude siblings can be engaged in PrEP promotion.

There is a critical need to increase Latino participation in research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). Applying principles of community-based participatory research, we convened a community advisory board (CAB) to identify barriers and recommend strategies to increase participation of older Latinos in a longitudinal observational research study of ADRD at the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Six major barriers were identified and programmatic changes to overcome them were implemented. Changes resulted in a nearly three-fold increase in the number of Latino individuals recruited, with the proportion of all newly recruited participants who were Latino increasing from 12.2% to 57.4%. Newer Latino recruits were more representative of the elderly Latino population in San Diego County than those recruited pre-CAB and remained highly agreeable to blood draw and neuroimaging, though less so to lumbar puncture and autopsy. Results demonstrate the value of CAB involvement in enhancing diversity in ADRD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically examines the growing utilization of the term Latinx in the United States (US) as an all-inclusive, nonbinary ethnonym that challenges the injustices experienced by discriminated minorities, mostly LGBTQIA + people of Latin American descent in the United States. Despite its relevance, the term Latinx presents key challenges, beginning with its use as a catch-all category and substitute for other ethnonyms (i.e. Hispanics and Latinos) that speak to diverse racial/ethnic identities. Latinx's two-fold framing effect has contributed to invisibilizing the experiences of cisgender people, along with transgender individuals who see themselves as binary, and of gender nonconforming populations. In supporting these claims, the author self-reflects on her Latina positionality to question the use of Latinx as a wide-ranging label. Finally, this essay offers concrete recommendations on how to properly use Latinx to include diverse Latin/a/o/x identities in the US and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth lived with family members in forced togetherness. Using the Texas Queer Youth COVID Study, a longitudinal qualitative study of 26 LGBTQ youth in Texas, we argue that the social conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted relationships between LGBTQ youth and their family in dynamic ways, including cultivating intimacy and magnifying new or existing conflicts. LGBTQ youth could not use their preferred strategies of avoidance to handle relatives' conservative pandemic politics and conspiracy theories. For Latinx LGBTQ youth, the intensified familism required during the shelter-in-place of the pandemic cultivated more intimacy but also became a justification for distance for youth trying to avoid homophobic relatives. These findings contribute to the study of LGBTQ youth and family relations, along with the impact of social isolation on family life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A growing literature has documented the social, economic, and health impacts of exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies in the early 21st century for Latiné communities in the US, pointing to immigration and immigrant policies as forms of structural racism that affect individual, family, and community health and well-being. Furthermore, the past decade has seen an increase in bi-partisan exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies. Immigration enforcement has been a major topic during the 2024 Presidential election cycle, portending an augmentation of exclusionary policies towards immigrants. Within this context, scholars have called for research that highlights the ways in which Latiné communities navigate exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies, and implications for health. This study examines ways in which Mexican-origin women in a midwestern northern border community navigate restrictive immigration and immigrant policies to access health-promoting resources and care for their well-being. Methods We conducted a grounded theory analysis drawing on interviews with 48 Mexican-origin women in Detroit, Michigan, who identified as being in the first, 1.5, or second immigrant generation. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish, depending on participants’ preferences, and were conducted at community-based organizations or other locations convenient to participants in 2013–2014. Results Women reported encountering an interconnected web of institutional processes that used racializing markers to infer legal status and eligibility to access health-promoting resources. Our findings highlight women’s use of both individual and collective action to navigate exclusionary policies and processes, working to: (1) maintain access to health-promoting resources; (2) limit labeling and stigmatization; and (3) mitigate adverse impacts of immigrant policing on health and well-being. The strategies women engaged were shaped by both the immigration processes and structures they confronted, and the resources to which they had access to within their social network. Conclusions Our findings suggest a complex interplay of immigration-related policies and processes, social networks, and health-relevant resources. They highlight the importance of inclusive policies to promote health for immigrant communities. These findings illuminate women’s agency in the context of structural violence facing immigrant women and are particularly salient in the face of anti-immigrant rhetoric and exclusionary immigration and immigrant policies.

AbstractExisting research on Latino cultural factors mainly focuses on gender and nationality, often overlooking sexual orientation and giving limited attention to the experiences of Latino sexual minority men in the United States of America (USA). This study addressed this gap by exploring how sexual minority men identify, describe and experience Latino cultural factors. Between April and December 2019, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 men (ages 18–40, 43% non-US-born) in the greater Miami, Florida area to explore their engagement in HIV prevention and behavioural health services. Secondary qualitative analysis examined five Latino cultural factors (personalismo, machismo, familismo, fatalismo and curanderismo), informed by the existing literature for initial coding and supplemented by the use of an inductive approach, yielding 14 subthemes. Findings revealed that although participants often described cultural factors in their traditional interpretations within the Latino community at large, they also highlighted unique experiences, particularly for relationship-oriented factors like personalismo, machismo and familismo. Sexual orientation stigma shaped participants’ experiences of these cultural factors. Study findings enhance knowledge about Latino sexual minority men’s lived experiences in the USA, underscoring how cultural factors are perceived both traditionally and uniquely, and emphasises the need for nuanced, culturally tailored assessments in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to deepen our understanding of how Spanish-speaking Latinos interact with and view public lands and parks to shape policies that meet their needs. Employing Salt Lake City as a case study, a focus group was used to gather insights on community experiences with an emphasis on the importance of the proximity, maintenance, and safety of parks. The study supports findings found in existing literature regarding the significance of diversity, accessibility, inclusivity, livability, and cultural vibrancy in parks. However, it also brings attention to challenges that Spanish-speaking Latino communities encounter, such as lower usage rates, less diversity of people, and the necessity for parks to serve as substitutes for limited private outdoor areas. Furthermore, Spanish-speaking Latinos expressed concerns about losing parks to new developments in their community because of gentrification. The study emphasizes that addressing these issues is crucial for public lands and parks that promote stewardship, inclusivity, equity, and community welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDespite recent increases in institutional efforts to improve sexual health safety, few studies have explored Latino college men’s sexual risk behaviors. Considering prior research examining links between sexual risk behaviors and factors such as condom use self-efficacy, sexual health knowledge and education, and sexual empowerment, it is critical to examine their influence on Latino college men’s sexual health in the context of cultural values and sexual scripts. Quantitative cross-sectional design and linear regression models were utilized to analyze responses from 177 Latino college men attending a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the Southeastern region of the United States (U.S.). Our findings revealed that higher satisfaction with sexual health knowledge and education when obtained from informal sources such as family members and peers significantly increased condom use self-efficacy. Contrastingly, greater levels of sexual empowerment significantly decreased Latino college men’s condom use self-efficacy. Findings underline the importance of considering the dynamic interaction of multilevel factors and the sexual decision-making process from a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and culturally syntonic lens to address sexual risk behaviors among Latino college men students.“Sexual health knowledge and education obtained from informal sources play a significant role in increasing Latino college men student’s condom use self-efficacy, in contrast to the effect shown by factors like sexual empowerment. Hence, approaching Latino sexual health from a culturally syntonic lens is essential in preventing sexual risky behaviors at a critical developmental stage.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is the top leading cause of death among Latino people. Lack of health insurance is a significant contributor to inadequate cancer detection and treatment. Despite healthcare policy expansions such as the Affordable Care Act, Latino people persistently maintain the highest uninsured rate among any ethnic and racial group in the US, especially among Latino individuals who are immigrants or part of a mixed immigration status household. Recognizing that immigration status is a critical factor in the ability of Latino community members to seek health insurance and access healthcare services, a few US states and the District of Columbia have implemented policies that have expanded coverage to children and adults regardless of immigration status. Expansion of Medicaid eligibility regardless of immigration status may significantly benefit Latino communities, however the facilitators and barriers to enrolling in these programs need to be evaluated to ensure reach and achieve health equity across the cancer control continuum for all Latinos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latino sexual minority men (SMM) are a highly vulnerable population to HIV, and while pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a promising biomedical tool for HIV prevention among them, its utilization remains disproportionately low in this community despite its potential. Understanding the barriers along the PrEP continuum of care, known as the "PrEP cascade," is crucial for effectively implementing PrEP interventions. Therefore, the objective of our study was twofold: first, to explore the stage of Latino SMM in the PrEP cascade by examining disparities in demographics, social factors, and healthcare aspects; second, to gain insights from healthcare providers who have direct clinical experience with our population regarding the challenges faced by Latino SMM in accessing and adhering to PrEP. Based on the study findings, the majority of participants (n = 74; 49%) were in the contemplation stage, and only one in ten Latino SMM (10.6%) were currently adherent to PrEP. Compared to those who were at least second-generation, first-generation status had a positive association (B = 0.699, SE = 0.208, β = 0.351, p <.001) with engagement along the PrEP Contemplation Ladder. Conversely, having at least one parent who did not have legal residency, relative to those whose parents were both U.S. citizens or held legal residency documentation, was found to have a negative association (B = − 0.689, SE = 0.245, β = 0.245, p =.006) with engagement along the PrEP Contemplation Ladder. Additionally, discussing PrEP with a healthcare provider had a positive association (B = 0.374, SE = 0.179, β = 0.185, p =.038) with engagement along the PrEP Contemplation Ladder. Qualitative results from our study suggest that some Latinos who initially agreed to start using PrEP ended up getting lost in the care pipeline and failed to attend their scheduled appointments. Providers also noted that many patients lacked access to a pharmacy where they felt comfortable obtaining their PrEP prescription, leading them to discontinue use after only a few months. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the unique needs, culture, and background of Latinos, including care delivery and provider attitudes that can facilitate progress through the PrEP cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Native Americans and Latinos have higher COVID‐19 infection and mortality rates and may have limited access to diagnostic testing. Home‐based testing may improve access to care in rural and underserved populations. This study tests the effect of community health worker (CHW) support on accessibility, feasibility, and completion of COVID‐19 home testing among Native American and Latino adults living on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and in Yakima Valley, Washington. Methods: A two‐arm, multisite, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted using block randomization stratified by site and participant age. Active arm participants received CHW assistance with online COVID‐19 test kit registration and virtual swabbing support. The passive arm participants received standard‐of‐care support from the kit vendor. Logistic regression modeled the association between study arm and test completion (primary outcome) and between study arm and test completion with return of valid test results (secondary outcome). Responses to posttest surveys and interviews were summarized using deductive thematic analysis. Findings: Overall, 63% of participants (n = 268) completed COVID‐19 tests, and 50% completed tests yielding a valid result. Active arm participants had higher odds of test completion (odds ratio: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [1.01, 2.75]). Differences were most pronounced among adults ≥60 years. Participants cited ease of use and not having to leave home as positive aspects, and transportation and mailing issues as negative aspects of home‐based testing. Conclusions: CHW support led to higher COVID‐19 test completion rates, particularly among older adults. Significant testing barriers included language, educational level, rurality, and test kit issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Latino caregivers caring for children under 5 years old who are under resourced, and underserved may be most vulnerable for experiencing mental health problems. Furthermore, Latino families with young children—during the COVID-19 pandemic—were at particular risk for multiple and concurrent stressors and acute adversities. Objectives: The Family Wellbeing Program (FWP) was designed to strengthen Latino caregivers' mental health and mental well-being, and facilitate their access to mental health supports and service providers. Methods: Using the principles of community-based participatory research, a university research team and staff from a federally qualified health care center co-developed and implemented the FWP. Pre- and post-implementation focus groups with six staff were conducted and data analysis was guided by the RE-AIM framework. Results: Staff identified implementation challenges related to the pandemic and socioenvironmental factors affecting the reach and participation of Latino families. Staff perceived the program improved caregivers' help-seeking behaviors, yet suggestions for improving the FWP for Latino caregivers were noted. Staff also discussed implementation strategies to sustain future programming. Conclusions: Implementation strategies along the RE-AIM dimensions were identified to improve the participation of Latino caregivers in future adaptations of the FWP. The implications of this work could show promise for sustaining programs designed to address disparities in mental health among Latino caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanic men have the highest prevalence of obesity relative to other racial and ethnic subgroups; however, this population is consistently underrepresented in weight management interventions. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of behavioral weight management interventions adapted for Hispanic men and describe their tailoring strategies and efficacy. Six online databases were selected for their abundant collection of high-quality, peer-reviewed literature and searched for studies which evaluated and reported weight outcomes for a cohort of adult (>18 years) Hispanic men. Of 6,508 unique publications screened, 12 interventions met inclusion criteria, the majority of which were published in the past 10 years. Only one study regarding an intervention tailored for Hispanic men was a randomized controlled trial adequately powered to assess a weight-based outcome; the remaining assessed feasibility or utilized quasi-experimental methods. Intervention characteristics and tailoring strategies varied considerably, but content was most frequently based on the Diabetes Prevention Program. Tailoring strategies commonly focused on improving linguistic access and incorporating social or family support. Follow-up varied from 1 month to 30 months and mean change in weight, the most common outcome, ranged from 0.6 to −6.3 kg. Our findings reveal a need for more fully powered randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of interventions systematically tailored specifically for Hispanic men. Although the majority were not fully powered, these interventions showed some efficacy among their small cohorts for short-term weight loss. Future directions include exploring how to tailor goals, concepts, and metaphors included in interventions and comparing individual to group delivery settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies assessing equity in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) for Latinos living in the USA collectively yield mixed results. Latino persons are diverse in many ways that may influence cardiovascular health. The intersection of Latino nativity and ASCVD prevention is understudied. Objective: To determine whether disparities in ASCVD screening, detection, and prescribing differ for US Latinos by country of birth. Design: A retrospective cohort design utilizing 2014–2020 electronic health record data from a network of 320 community health centers across 12 states. Analyses occurred October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. Participants: Non-Hispanic White and Latino adults age 20–75 years, born in Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the USA. Exposures: Ethnicity and country of birth. Main Measures: Outcome measures included prevalence of statin eligibility, of having insufficient data to establish eligibility, odds of having a documented statin prescription, and rates of statin prescriptions and refills. We used covariate-adjusted logistic and generalized estimating equations logistic and negative binomial regressions to generate absolute and relative measures. Key Results: Among 108,672 adults, 23% (n = 25,422) were statin eligible for primary or secondary prevention of ASCVD using American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines. Latinos, born in and outside the USA were more likely eligible than Non-Hispanic White patients were (US-born Latino OR = 1.55 (95% CI = 1.37–1.75); non-US-born Latino OR = 1.63 (95% CI = 1.34–1.98)). The eligibility criteria that was met differed by ethnicity and nativity. Latinos overall were less likely missing data to establish eligibility and differences were again observed by specific non-US country of origin. Among those eligible, we observed no statistical difference in statin prescribing between US-born Latinos and non-Hispanic White persons; however, disparities varied by specific non-US country of origin. Conclusion: Efforts to improve Latino health in the USA will require approaches for preventing and reversing cardiovascular risk factors, and statin initiation that are Latino subgroup specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]