Social and Contextual Factors Influencing STI Diagnosis Among Latina College Students
Latina young adults are considerably affected by sexual health disparities such as the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young adult college students in particular are a population vulnerable to STIs and for whom few culturally responsive sexual health prevention interventions exist. This study explored the social and contextual factors that may influence STI diagnosis among a sample of 611 Latina college students between the ages of 18-26 who completed an online, cross-sectional survey that included questions about their health and behaviors. The social and contextual factors of interest to this study were: country of origin, familial immigration generational status, socioeconomic status, and substance use. Substance use, and specifically drug misuse, emerged as a risk factor for positive STI diagnosis. Participants who engaged in severe/substantial drug misuse were at higher odds of a positive STI diagnosis. Overall, findings revealed the need for prevention and intervention programs targeted to specific groups who may be most vulnerable to STI diagnosis, including students who are misusing drugs, heterosexual students, students whose families have lived longer in the U.S., and students further along in terms of year in school. Unexpectedly, and although correlated with STI diagnosis, discrimination and sexism were not associated with STI diagnosis while controlling for other factors. Tailored, affirmative and culturally responsive prevention efforts should attend to the roles of drug misuse, gendered dynamics in heterosexual relationships, and cultural values in sexual decision-making to promote safer sexual behaviors among Latina young adult college students.