Subjective culture and HIV preventive behaviour among young Latin Americans: a systematic review

Abstract

Given high levels of new HIV infection globally, calls have been made for greater attention to the cultural variables that hinder prevention and testing. However, no reviews exist to systematise the findings. This study aimed to identify the cultural variables associated with three HIV preventive behaviours (condom use, HIV testing behaviour, and injection drug use with non-shared or sterilised syringes) among young Latin Americans. A systematic review was conducted guided by PRISMA-P criteria, on five databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Medline and Scielo), which identified 2474 articles. Scientific articles and empirical studies that addressed cultural variables and HIV preventive behaviours among young people aged 15-24 years of age using Latin American samples were selected, with 37 articles being included in the final review. Six key cultural variables: the importance of female virginity; the role of trust in the couple’s relationship; the disorienting effects of romantic love; the role of subjective norms; the importance of decision-making norms; and impulse control beliefs. Gender norms provide a framework for understanding sexual decision-making among young Latin Americans. Although young people have begun to adopt more egalitarian views of gender norms, deep-rooted beliefs about gender, sexuality and relationships continue to impact on HIV prevention behaviour.

Keywords:

• HIV
• primary prevention
• Latin America
• culture

Acknowledgements

We thank the Laboratorio de Cultura y Comportamiento at the Universidad de La Frontera for feedback at every phase of the manuscript writing process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Chilean National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development, (FONDECYT) Project number #11180115; and the ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program/Millennium Institute for Research on Depression and Personality-MIDAP ICS13_005, Chile.