The use of prescription medications obtained from non-medical sources among immigrant Latinos in the rural southeastern U.S.

We explored the relationships between behavioral, socio-cultural, and psychological characteristics and the use of prescription medications obtained from non-medical sources among predominantly Spanish-speaking Latinos in the rural southeastern U.S. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to identify, recruit, and enroll immigrant Latinos to participate in an interviewer-administered assessment. A total of 164 respondents were interviewed in 2009. Average age was 34 years old, 64% of respondents were female, and nearly 85% reported being from Mexico. Unweighted and RDS-weighted prevalence estimates of any non-medical source of prescription medications were 22.6% and 15.1%, respectively. In multivariable modeling, respondents who perceived their documentation status as a barrier to health care and those with higher educational attainment were significantly more likely to report use of non-medical sources. Interventions are needed to increase knowledge of eligibility to sources of medical care and treatment and ensure culturally congruent services for immigrant communities in the U.S.

Learning from clients: an opportunity for sexually transmitted disease programs.

This article summarizes sexually transmitted disease (STD) knowledge, health care-seeking behaviors, and perceived advantages to seeking care from the perspective of 397 STD clinic clients interviewed between 1997 and 1999 in three northeastern cities. More than half reported a prior STD. Mean days delay in seeking treatment was 10.8. Reasons for delay included lack of knowledge especially about symptoms (44%) and inconvenience, especially clinic hours (46%). Major disadvantages to receiving care centered around embarrassment and stress (24%). Programs need to develop more intensive counseling for repeat clients, offer more flexible hours, address sources of stress inherent in their services, and develop better marketing strategies. Successful behavioral interventions, behavioral training, and creative approaches from the popular literature may be helpful.