Substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression: an underlying syndemic factor among Latinas.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Background
Evidence from the literature suggests that substance abuse, violence, HIV risk, depressive symptoms, and underlying socioeconomic conditions are tied intrinsically to health disparities among Latinas. Although these health and social conditions appear to comprise a syndemic, an underlying phenomenon disproportionately accounting for the burden of disease among marginalized groups, these hypothesized relationships have not been formally tested.Objectives
The aim of this study was to assess (a) if substance abuse, violence, HIV risk, and depressive symptoms comprised a syndemic and (b) if this syndemic was related to socioeconomic disadvantage among Latinas.Methods
Baseline assessment data from a randomized controlled community trial testing the efficacy of an HIV risk reduction program for adult Latinas (n = 548) were used to measure demographic variables, substance abuse, violence, risk for HIV, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to test a single underlying syndemic factor model and any relation to socioeconomic disadvantage.Results
The results of this study support the idea that HIV risk, substance abuse, violence, and depressive symptoms comprise a syndemic, χ(27) = 53.26, p < .01 (relative χ = 1.97, comparative fit index = .91, root mean square error of approximation = .04). In addition, in limited accord with theory, this factor was related to 2 measures of socioeconomic disadvantage, percentage of years in the United States (b = 7.55, SE = 1.53, p < .001) and education (b = -1.98, SE = .87, p < .05).Discussion
The results of this study could be used to guide public health programs and policies targeting behavioral health disparity conditions among Latinos and other vulnerable populations. Further study of the influence of gender-role expectations and community-level socioeconomic indicators may provide additional insight into this syndemic.Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- González-Guarda, RM; McCabe, BE; Florom-Smith, A; Cianelli, R; Peragallo, N
Published Date
- May 2011
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 60 / 3
Start / End Page
- 182 - 189
PubMed ID
- 21522030
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC3171180
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1538-9847
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0029-6562
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/nnr.0b013e318216d5f4
Language
- eng