At-Risk Drinking and Workplace Conditions among Latino Day Laborers.

: Latino Day Laborers (LDL) face a variety of factors which have been associated with at-risk drinking. The objective of this study was to assess the association of at-risk drinking with measures of work site conditions. : Data from surveys conducted with 307 LDL in Houston, TX in 2015 were analyzed.

Vales+Tú: a cluster-randomized pilot study to reduce workplace injuries among US Latino day laborers.

Latino day laborers (LDL) are a vulnerable population of workers facing considerable risk for occupational injury. Under the guidance of our Community Advisory Board, we developed and tested the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of Vales+Tú (You Are Worth More), a workplace injury risk-reduction program implemented by promotores on street-corners where LDL seek employment. The program was informed by theoretical perspectives emphasizing individual and group agency and self-determination.

Evaluation of a 2-1-1 Telephone Navigation Program to Increase Cancer Control Behaviors: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone navigation intervention for increasing use of cancer control services among underserved 2-1-1 callers.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: 2-1-1 call centers in Houston and Weslaco, Texas (located in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexican border).

Perceived Discrimination and Injury at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Latino Day Laborers.

Background: Given the stigma of their undocumented status and their high prevalence of workplace injury, understanding the impact of discrimination on Latino day laborers (LDLs) is a critical public health issue.

Methods: We surveyed LDLs (N = 149) and assessed their sociodemographics, experiences of and perceived reasons for discrimination, and work-related injury. A logistic regression examined the association between discrimination and injury, adjusting for sociodemographics.

Structural Racism and Immigrant Health: Exploring the Association Between Wage Theft, Mental Health, and Injury among Latino Day Laborers.

Background: Although wage theft has been discussed primarily as a labor and human rights issue, it can be conceptualized as an issue of structural racism with important consequences for immigrant health.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify sociodemographic, employment, and stress-related characteristics that increase Latino day laborers' odds of experiencing wage theft; 2) assess the association between wage theft and serious work-related injury; 3) assess the association between wage theft and three indicators of mental health-depression, social isolation, and alcohol use-as a function of wage theft; and 4) assess serious work-related injury as a function of wage theft controlling for mental health.

Methods: Secondary data analyses were based on survey data collected from 331 Latino day laborers between November 2013 and July 2014.

A lay health worker intervention to improve breast and cervical cancer screening among Latinas in El Paso, Texas: A randomized control trial.

Introduction: We examined the effectiveness of a lay health worker (promotora)-delivered intervention on increasing breast and cervical cancer screening among low-income, primarily uninsured Latinas living in El Paso, Texas.

Methods: In 2015, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening (BCCS) program promotoras recruited Latinas overdue for breast and/or cervical cancer screening in community settings. Promotoras consented eligible women and conducted baseline surveys before individually randomizing women into control (n = 313) or intervention (n = 314) groups.

Documenting and Understanding Workplace Injuries Among Latino Day Laborers.

Background: Latino day laborers face substantial injuries at work. We present a comprehensive assessment of their injury experience and explore the predictors of selfreported injuries.

Methods: Worker and injury characteristics were collected from 331 day laborers using an innnovative injury assessment tool.

(Health is Happiness): promoting mammography and pap test adherence among Vietnamese nail salon workers.

Vietnamese nail salon workers have low cancer screening rates and confront multiple socioeconomic disparities as immigrants to the US. The (Vietnamese for "Health is Happiness") program was adapted to the cultural and work needs of this population and implemented at nail salons to increase cancer screening adherence. A total of 186 study participants were recruited from 59 nail salons in a neighborhood with mostly Asian population.

Exploring relationships among social integration, social isolation, self-rated health, and demographics among Latino day laborers.

Objectives: Research indicates social integration and social isolation are related to health, and Latino day laborers (LDLs) tend to be socially isolated and, thus, at high risk for adverse health consequences. relationships among social isolation, social integration, self-rated health (SRH), and demographics were examined in a sample of LDLs to contribute to the literature on social networks and health in this and other migrant populations.

Design: We analyzed data from 324 LDLs who participated in Proyecto SHILOS (Salud del Hombre Inmigrante Latino), a Houston-based survey of Latino immigrant men's health.

Structural Characteristics of Migrant Farmworkers Reporting a Relationship with a Primary Care Physician.

Migrant farmworkers are disproportionately affected by many adverse health conditions, but access healthcare sparingly. This study of migrant farmworkers examined the distribution and general characteristics associated with having access to healthcare. Access to healthcare was measured by asking whether the participants (N = 413) had a primary care physician.

Effect of acculturation and access to care on colorectal cancer screening in low-income Latinos.

Latinos have lower colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) and survival rates compared to other race/ethnic groups. This cross-sectional study examines relationships between acculturation, access to and utilization of healthcare services, and CRCS in low-income Latinos. Bilingual data collectors conducted structured interviews with 544 Latino men and women (>50 years) residing in the Texas-Mexico border area.

An assessment of brief group interventions to increase condom use by heterosexual crack smokers living with HIV infection.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of brief group interventions, the positive choices intervention (PCI) and a standard intervention (SI), to increase condom use and intention to use condoms and to change condom use attitudes and beliefs. The design of the study was a randomized comparative trial. Participants were 347 heterosexual African American crack cocaine users living with HIV infection.

HIV seroprevalence in a sample of Tanzanian intravenous drug users.

Injection drug use has recently emerged in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors associated with increased risk of testing HIV-positive in a sample of injection drug users (IDUs) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants were recruited by a trained outreach worker or were referred by IDUs who had completed the study.

Multiple sexual partnerships in a sample of African-American crack smokers.

The sample for this study consisted of 692 sexually active African-American crack cocaine users living in Houston, TX who reported more than one sexual partner in the previous 30 days. Participants were asked to describe each of their two most recent partners from a list of eight choices: spouse/like a spouse/lover; close friend/friend/acquaintance/customer you like/customer. Analyses were conducted on the 1,384 partners and 692 partnership combinations reported.

The HIV transmission gradient: relationship patterns of protection.

We describe a gradient of potential HIV transmission from HIV-infected persons to their partners and thence to uninfected populations. The effect of this newly discovered transmission gradient is to limit the spread of HIV. We roughly estimate a 2% long-term transmission probability for sex and 14% for drug injection for two-step transmission.

Differences in HIV risk behaviors by gender in a sample of Tanzanian injection drug users.

This study investigated differences in drug use and sexual behaviors among from 237 male and 123 female heroin users in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Multivariate models of risk of needle sharing were estimated using multivariate logistic regression. Men were significantly older, more likely to inject only white heroin, share needles, and give or lend used needles to other injectors.

Protecting oneself from human immunodeficiency virus: are prevention messages being heard?

The transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other communicable diseases is socially organized. Public health attempts to reduce HIV transmission have admonished persons to reduce their risks--in effect, to act as if their partners are or could be HIV-seropositive. Therefore, a good test of the effectiveness of public health messages is to compare the riskiness of behaviors among HIV-seronegative persons with the riskiness of the behavior of serodiscordant partners.

Prevalence of hepatitis C in a drug using and non-using welfare population.

Context: Drug use is a primary route for the transmission of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). A substantial proportion of welfare recipients have been shown to be substance abusers. In addition, federal legislation has imposed limits on the number of months individuals may receive benefits and has mandated most recipients to participate in a 'work activity' in exchange for benefits.

Motivations for condom use and nonuse.

This exploratory study investigates the motivations for condom use and nonuse among a sample of drug users and nonusers. Participants who reported condom use in the previous 30 days rated various reasons for using a condom the last time they had had sex (79 participants). Those who reported not using a condom rated reasons for not using a condom the last time they had had sex (147 participants).

Social networks and forecasting the spread of HIV infection.

This study is an initial effort to use network data to forecast the spread of HIV in a large U.S. city.

New syringe acquisition and multi-person use of syringes among illegal drug users.

Objectives: This study reports on characteristics associated with "new" syringes by IDUs in Houston, Texas, where acquisition to sterile syringes is largely limited to pharmacy purchase.

Methods: Data were collected from street-recruited injection drug users in Houston, Texas. "New" syringe use was defined as always injecting with syringes that were obtained brand new from a pharmacy and that were always wrapped in plastic when they were purchased.

Mental health, drug use, and the transition from welfare to work.

This study examines the effects of drug use and work requirements on psychological distress and employment among chronic drug-using and non-drug-using welfare recipients. Using a natural history design, 442 female Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients (including 251 with chronic drug use problems) were interviewed every 4 months in order to assess changes in psychological functioning, employment status, and wages. Data from the first year (four waves) indicate that employment and wages increased substantially, though less so for drug users than non-drug users.

A synthesis of welfare reform policy and its impact on substance users.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of welfare reform and its impact on the substance-abusing recipient.

Methods: The data for this paper were derived from sources including the US Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Results: The number of individuals on public assistance has decreased in the years following implementation of welfare reform legislation.