Health Promotion for Hispanic Populations

One health need of Hispanic/Latino population

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic/Latino ethnic group is considered to be the most spread in the USA. At the same time, this ethnic group appears in danger of being HIV infected. The rates are as follows, in 2008 there were 56,300 people with new HIV diagnoses, 17% of those people were Hispanics/Latinos. This data does not include already infected people. It should be stated that 76% of Hispanics/Latinos newly HIV infected are men (Alvarez et al, 2009). Arno and Luther (2008) state that Hispanics/Latinos with HIV/AIDS are subjected to drug use and alcohol consumption more than those who are not HIV/AIDS infected. According to the research conducted by Arno and Luther (2008) in Indiana state, urban citizens are at higher risk to be HIV/AIDS infected than rural ones. Therefore, it may be completed that one of the most important health needs for the Hispanic/Latino population is the identification of the already infected, their testing and making sure that the rate of newly infected decreases each year.

A health promotion program to meet the identified health need

The Obama Administration adopted the Act against AIDS in 2009. The act is a 5 years campaign aimed at reducing the rate of HIV/AIDS newly infected among certain communities (Dean, 2009). Paying attention to this act, it is possible to develop a specific program, directed at Hispanic/Latino ethnic group with the purpose to meet their specific needs. Act against AIDS includes “public service announcements, online communications, and targeted messages” (Dean, 2009, p. 2). We offer to include an intensive testing promotion program to make sure that more Hispanics/Latinos express a desire to get tested. Applying a health promotion program to Hispanics/Latinos’ needs one should be aware of the cultural traditions of this ethnic group. Being assimilated, this nation wants to save its cultural identity. Hispanics/Latinos praise family greatly. Therefore, the health promotion program directed at reducing the number of newly infected and identifying the already infected Hispanics/Latinos should pay attention cultural and national peculiarities of these people. Non-English speakers should be treated appropriately. Moreover, it is important to remember about socioeconomic differences in the subgroups of Hispanic/Latino society (Altarriba, 1998).

How intervention methods are translated into practical strategies

It is really difficult to create an effective intervention method and properly incorporate it into practice. First of all, the community intervention is going to be implemented at should be carefully considered. Specific research conducted by Chetkovich, Mauldon, Brindis, and Guendelman (1999) states that providing intervention the researchers should pay much attention to prejudices related to the research. This fact may ruin the whole intervention. Moreover, much attention should be paid to unstable relationships, expressed skepticism devoted to planning intervention, and to unsatisfactory past experience in implementing the method. Additionally, the research results show that “punitive messages and policies based on a simplistic model of behavior may be unrealistic and ineffective” (Chetkovich, Mauldon, Brindis, & Guendelman, 1999, p. 527). Nickels (2000) has also conducted research in the sphere of the effectiveness of the intervention programs and came to the conclusion that values and partnerships are effective issues for prevention programs. Using specific information while preventive intervention trials may give much more benefit than ignorance of this information. Offering six steps, Nickels (2000) offers a good scheme for our intervention, however, much attention should be paid to the peculiarities of the Hispanic/Latino community. The steps offered by Nickels (2000) for intervention development and implementation are as follows, creation of the partnership, values and vision clarification, identification of strength of approaches and partners, problem definition, prevention program development, research, and evaluation.

Reference List

Alvarez, M. E., Jakhmola, P., Painter, T. M., Taillepierre, J., Romaguera, R. A., Herbst, J. H., & Wolitski, R. J. (2009). Summary of comments and recommendations from the CDC consultation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and prevention in the Hispanic/Latino community. AIDS Education & Prevention, 21, 7-18.

Arno, J. N., & Luther, J. B. (2008). Characteristics of Hispanic/Latino Individuals Tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Programs Funded by The Indiana State Department of Health. Health Education Monograph Series, 25(2), 13-17.

Altarriba, J. M. (1998). Counseling the Hispanic Client: Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans. Journal of Counseling & Development, 76(4), 389-396.

Dean, H. (2009). Foreword: HIV/AIDS prevention in the Hispanic/Latino community. AIDS Education and Prevention: Official Publication Of The International Society For AIDS Education, 21(5 Suppl), 1-2.

Chetkovich, C., Mauldon, J., Brindis, C., & Guendelman, S. (1999). Informed policy making for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. Understanding low-income women’s experiences with family planning. Evaluation Review, 23(5), 527-552.

Nickels, P. (2000). Partnerships for Implementing School and Community Prevention Programs. Journal of Educational & Psychological Consultation, 11(1), 121-145.