The Role of Parenting in Alcohol and Tobacco Use Among Latino Adolescents.

Parents can impact adolescent substance use, but it is unclear which substances are most affected. This study compared associations between parenting behaviors and alcohol and tobacco use to see if parenting was equally related to both behaviors. Alcohol and tobacco use data were collected from 252 Latino adolescents living along the San Diego-Tijuana border.

A two-way road: rates of HIV infection and behavioral risk factors among deported Mexican labor migrants.

A large number of Mexican migrants are deported to Mexico and released in the North Mexican border region every year. Despite their volume and high vulnerability, little is known about the level of HIV infection and related risk behaviors among this hard-to-reach population. We conducted a cross-sectional, probability survey with deported Mexican migrants in Tijuana, Mexico (N = 693) and estimated levels of HIV infection and behavioral risk factors among this migrant flow.

Latino parenting practices: a comparison of parent and child reports of parenting practices and the association with gateway drug use.

Parent and adolescent self-reports are the most common sources for measuring parenting practices. This study's purpose was to compare how parent and adolescent reports of parenting behaviors differentially predict adolescent gateway drug use. The sample consisted of 252 Latino adolescent-parent dyads.

Determinants and prevalence of late HIV testing in Tijuana, Mexico.

Timely diagnosis of HIV is essential to improve survival rates and reduce transmission of the virus. Insufficient progress has been made in effecting earlier HIV diagnoses. The Mexican border city of Tijuana has one of the highest AIDS incidence and mortality rates in all of Mexico.

The reliability and practicality of the Arkansas method assay of isoniazid adherence.

The Arkansas method (AM) for isoniazid (INH) metabolite detection is a relatively inexpensive, simple, objective measure of adherence. The purpose of the study was to explore whether variations in urine sample handling and storage will produce accurate assay outcomes. Participants were a convenience sample of 28 adults and adolescents prescribed INH for latent tuberculosis infection.

Engaging local businesses in HIV prevention efforts: the consumer perspective.

Participation of different community sectors, including the private business sector, is necessary to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Local businesses may be reluctant to participate in HIV prevention because of fear of negative customer reactions and loss of revenue. This study examines the extent to which residents of two communities in San Diego, California, would support HIV prevention initiatives in local businesses.

Does proximity to retailers influence alcohol and tobacco use among Latino adolescents?

Despite decades of research surrounding determinants of alcohol and tobacco (A&T) use among adolescents, built environment influences have only recently been explored. This study used ordinal regression on 205 Latino adolescents to explore the influence of the built environment (proximity to A&T retailers) on A&T use, while controlling for recognized social predictors. The sample was 45% foreign-born.

Predictors of weapon carrying in youth attending drop-in centers.

Objective: To test and compare 2 predictive models of weapon carrying in youth (n = 308) recruited from 4 drop-in centers in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Methods: Both models were based on the Behavioral Ecological Model (BEM).

Results: The first and second models significantly explained 39% and 53% of the variance in weapon carrying, respectively, and both full models shared the significant predictors of being black(-), being Hispanic (-), peer modeling of weapon carrying/jail time (+), and school suspensions (+).

Self-report INH adherence measures were reliable and valid in Latino adolescents with latent tuberculosis infection.

Background And Objective: To test the reliability and validity of 8-day and 30-day self-report measures of adherence to daily isoniazid (INH) for treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).

Methods: Participants were 286 Latino adolescents (ages 13-18, 55.6% male) with LTBI recruited from 10 public middle and high schools in San Diego County.

Increasing Latino adolescents' adherence to treatment for latent tuberculosis infection: a controlled trial.

Objectives: We sought to determine the efficacy of coaching Latino adolescents with latent tuberculosis infection to adhere to isoniazid treatment.

Methods: Participants (n = 286) were randomly assigned to adherence coaching, attention control, or usual care groups. Adherence was measured via interviews and validated with urine assays.