Survey of condom-related beliefs, behaviors, and perceived social norms in Mexican migrant laborers

This study reports findings from a survey of condom-related beliefs, behaviors, and perceived social norms in Mexican migrant laborers that live and work in the United States for extended periods of time. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 501 Mexican migrants from five 'sending towns' in Jalisco, Mexico, with historically high rates of out-migration to the United States. Results showed that subjects reported few negative beliefs about condom use and high efficacy to use condoms in challenging sexual situations but social norms sanctioning condoms were limited. Results also revealed mixed knowledge of HIV transmission, poor knowledge of condom use, and higher condom use with occasional versus regular sex partners. Forty-four percent of male migrants reported sex with prostitutes while in the U.S., with married men reporting less condoms use with prostitutes than single men. It was concluded that condom promotion efforts with Mexican migrants should concentrate on men to encourage consistent use with occasional sex partners, including prostitutes. AIDS prevention education should be provided with sensitivity to the language needs, limited education, and extreme social and geographic marginality of this highly underresearched Latino population