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Participatory Assessment of the Health of Latino Immigrant Men in a Community with a Growing Latino Population

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Abstract

Latino immigrant men are an understudied population in the US, especially in areas with small yet growing Latino populations. For this community-based participatory health assessment we conducted four focus groups and 66 structured surveys with Latino immigrant men, and 10 openended interviews with service providers. We analyzed transcripts using content analysis and survey data using Pearson Chi-square tests. Overall, 53 % of participating men had not completed high school. Our findings suggest that their social circumstances precluded men from behaving in a way they believe would protect their health. Loneliness, fear and lack of connections prompted stress among men, who had difficulty locating healthcare services. Newly immigrated men were significantly more likely to experience depression symptoms. Latino immigrant men face social isolation resulting in negative health consequences, which are amplified by the new growth community context. Men can benefit from interventions aimed at building their social connections.

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Acknowledgments

The following LEGS members were instrumental in the design of this study: Enrique Avila, Isidro Avilez, Alfonso Barquera, Jose Bernardo, Sarah Bowen-Salio, Jose Covarrubias, Patricia Galetto, Juventino Gomez, Marcela Horvitz-Lennon, Jose Nova, Francisco Solis, Kenneth Thompson, Omar Valencia, AnDria Verde, Pedro Verde, Vicky Yacht, Charlie Yhap, and Freddy Yuman. We thank Dr. Steven Albert for his feedback. This study was supported by the Clinical and Transnational Science Institute (CTSI), University of Pittsburgh, Grant Number UL1 RR024153, National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Room 223, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Patricia I. Documėt, Andrea Kamouyerou, Amalia Pesantes, Laura Macia & Thomas Guadamuz

  2. Squirrel Hill Health Center and Department of Family Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Andrea Fox

  3. Consumer Health Coalition, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Leslie Bachurski

  4. Latino Engagement Group for Salud, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Hernan Maldonado, Dawn Morgenstern, Miguel Gonzalez & Roberto Boyzo

Authors
  1. Patricia I. Documėt
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  2. Andrea Kamouyerou
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  3. Amalia Pesantes
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  4. Laura Macia
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  5. Hernan Maldonado
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  6. Andrea Fox
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  7. Leslie Bachurski
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  8. Dawn Morgenstern
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  9. Miguel Gonzalez
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  10. Roberto Boyzo
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  11. Thomas Guadamuz
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Correspondence to Patricia I. Documėt.

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Documėt, P.I., Kamouyerou, A., Pesantes, A. et al. Participatory Assessment of the Health of Latino Immigrant Men in a Community with a Growing Latino Population. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 239–247 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9897-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9897-2

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