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Culture and Gender Sensitive AIDS Prevention with Mexican Migrant Laborers: A Primer for Counselors

Author: Organista, Pamela Balls
Date Published: 1997


The purpose of this article is to explicate research-informed culture and gender sensitive AIDS prevention strategies aimed at Mexican migrant laborers living and working in the United States for extended time. This unique and extremely marginalized Latino population is yet another emerging high risk group for contracting the HIV virus. Counselors interested in applying their knowledge of psychology and minority groups to preventing such an AIDS epidemic will be challenged by the complex factors that frame this problem. This article addresses the following questions based on pertinent literature and original research by the authors and their associates: a) What is the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS for Mexican migrant laborers living and working in the United States? B) What are the factors related to culture, gender and migratory labor that need to be considered by counselors? C) How can professional counselors use this information to assist them in providing effective HIV/AIDS prevention strategies with this unique Latino population. Counselors working with a population at risk for HIV infection are often responsible for the delivery of prevention services in nontraditional settings, including primary health care center. In particular, Mexican migrant laborers are a new at-risk population that counselors may encounter in federally funded and non-profit rural health and mental health centers as well as urban county hospitals. In addition, counselors may assume the roles of consultants and case managers as they consult with other health care providers.

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Number of Pages: 6