http://publichealthconsulting.org/ Karina Villalba gives a presentation in Atlanta at the Annual conference of the American Public Health Association. The title of the presentation is: Physical Activity, Acculturation, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Latinas: A Longitudinal Community Based Study

1. Physical Activity, Acculturation, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Latinas:
A Longitudinal Community Based Study
Patria Rojas, PhD, MPH, MSW 1,2; Karina Villalba, PhD2; Tan Li, PhD 1,2; Mario De La Rosa, PhD 1,2
1 Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA); 2 Department of Health Promotion & Disease
Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, FIU
Participant CharacteristicsBackground Results / Findings
Methods
Conclusion
Latinas report one of the highest rates of physical
inactivity across all races.
Many of the factors influencing engagement in physical
activity appear to be shaped by deeply embedded
cultural norms, and traditional gender roles. However,
the longitudinal relationship between acculturation and
sexual risk behaviors has not been previously
evaluated.
.
Community
Leaders (n=4)
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the
National Institute on Minority Health and Health
Disparities under Grant P20MD002288. The content is
solely the responsibility of the authors and does not
necessarily represent the official views of NIMHD or NIH.
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that
they have no conflicts of interest.
Physical activity increases with higher acculturation.
However, it is not associated with length of time
lived in the US.
In addition, PA is lower among women who
engaged in sexual risk behaviors and substance
misuse.
These results pave the way to develop interventions
tailored to the level of cultural familiarity rather than
time lived in the US.
There was a significant association between
acculturation and increased PA in women (β= 1.11;
p= 0.05). Drug use and sexual risk behaviors
differed by PA.
When comparing the length of stay in the US,
women who lived the longest in the US had 13%
lower PA than women who had lived less time in the
US.
Women who misused drugs reported 60% less PA
compared to their counterparts who did not misuse
drugs (β= 0.51; p= 0.05). Women who engaged in
sexual risk behaviors reported 50% more PA than
their counterparts (β= 0.50; p= 0.05) who did not
engage in sexual risk behaviors.
This study used the International Physical Activity
Questionnaire to determine physical activity.
Drug Use Frequency (DUF) was used to measure sex
under the influence of drug or alcohol, and drug
misuse.
Sexual Risk Behavior was calculated using sex under
the influence of alcohol and drugs, sex with multiple
partners, and sex without condoms.
Cultural Identity Scale was used to measure
acculturation.
To determine outcomes, we used the Generalized
Estimated Equation model using repeated measures.
Objective
To identify socio-cultural factors associated with
moderate and high physical activity (PA) among adult
Latinas.
A total of 229 Latina women were enrolled in the study with
a mean age of 45 years old. Most completed high school
and were currently employed. Most women walked or
engaged in Moderate exercises only.
Characteristics
Women
n = 229 (%)
Demographic Characteristics
Age, mean (SD) 45 (15.7)
Marital Status
Single 66 (28.8)
Married 74 (32.3)
Divorced 105 (45.9)
Living with a partner 37 (16.2)
Education
Some high school 74 (32.3)
High school diploma 70 (30.1)
Some college 77 (33.6)
Bachelor’s (4-years of college) 56 (24.5)
Graduate/Professional 17 (7.4)
Employed 151 (65.9)
Household Income
0 – 9,999 45 (19.7)
10,000 – 19,000 57 (24.9)
20,000 – 29,000 58 (25.3)
30,000 – 39,000 43 (18.8)
40,000 – 49,000 21 (9.2)
50,000 or more 52 (22.7)
Substance Misuse in Last 12 Months
Marijuana and Cocaine 40 (17.5)
Sedatives 30 (13.1)
Alcohol 62 (27)
HIV Risk Behavior in Last 12 Months 190 (83)
Physical Activity (MET: Minutes of Exercise Time per Week)
Light - Walking MET 9.4*
Moderate MET 8.4*
Vigorous MET 9.6