AIDS advocates in
New York City, alarmed at how little Mexican immigrants
know about HIV and how to protect themselves from the virus,
have launched educational campaigns targeting
immigrants, The New York Times reports. A recent
study by researchers at the University of Texas
at El Paso, shows that risky behaviors,
inadequate access to health care services, and a lack of
knowledge about HIV puts Mexican immigrants at a high risk
for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
New York City
advocates are attempting to reach illegal immigrants that
may be afraid of accessing traditional health services by
reaching out to clients of sex workers, day laborers,
people involved in service jobs, and women.
They're also encouraging AIDS service providers that
have Spanish-speaking staff members to also add staff
that understand and can speak local dialects common in
poor areas of Mexico, where many immigrants come from,
and to speak about the importance of condom use with
immigrants, who may have religious or cultural objections to
condoms. (The Advocate)