Nativity and the risk of opioid use disorder among Hispanic/Latinx women in primary care in Los Angeles, CA.

Background: While rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) are lower among women compared to men, nativity may have disproportionate impacts on OUD risk among Hispanic/Latinx women but remain understudied.

Objective: To assess the association between country of birth and reported OUD risk among low-income Hispanic/Latinx women in primary care in Los Angeles, CA.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1189 non-pregnant, Hispanic/Latinx women attending two federally qualified health centers in Los Angeles between March and July 2013. OUD risk was assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), and moderate-to-high risk was defined as ASSIST score ≥ 4.

Results: Overall, 4.2% of women ( = 49) were at moderate-to-high risk for OUD. Risk for OUD was higher among US-born women compared to foreign-born women (6.7 1.7%;  < .01), those who reported 2+ chronic medical conditions ( < .01), and those who were at moderate-to-high risk for other substance use disorders ( < .01). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, being U.S.-born was independently associated with being at moderate-to-high risk for OUD among Hispanic/Latinx women as compared to those who were foreign-born (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.2-6.8).

Conclusion: Among low-income Hispanic/Latinx women presenting to primary care, one in twenty patients is at-risk for OUD. The odds of moderate-high risk of OUD were three times as high in US-born compared to foreign-born women, and higher among those with chronic medical conditions and those at risk of other substance use disorders. Gender-specific and culturally-tailored screening for OUD may inform overdose prevention interventions for US-born Hispanic/Latinx women.