Understanding the sexuality of Mexican-born women and their risk for HIV/AIDS

Participants in this study were 300 Mexican women of rural origin who were born and raised in villages of that country and who belong to one of three groups: married and living with their husbands in Los Angeles, California ( n = 100), married to migrant workers but living in Mexico (n = 100), and li ving in Mexico with their spouses (n = 100). Trained female professionals c onducted face-to-face interviews in Spanish, in Mexico and in the United St ates. The purpose of this study was to identify specific sexual practices, coping strategies in sex-related situations, and fears and concerns regardi ng sexual intercourse. This article analyzes how these elements place Mexic an rural-origin women at risk for HIV/AIDS. It discusses the need to design intervention strategies to prevent HIV/AIDS that take into consideration t he limited power of women in traditional societies and the cultural precept s that promote gender roles characterized by male dominance and female subm issiveness in the sexual arena.