Alcohol Use Among Returned Mexican Immigrants in Mexico City Crossing the U.S.-Mexico Border

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Background: There is limited understanding of the in-transit migration experience and the prevalence of alcohol use consumption among involuntary (e.g. deportation) return immigrants to Mexico City (CDMX). This study examines alcohol use prevalence among involuntary returned immigrants to address the associations of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Methods: Tirando Muros Salud sin Fronteras an NIH-funded study employing a concurrent mixed-method nested design, two subgroups of “recent” immigrants (past 5 years) in Los Angeles (n=253) and immigrants who returned to CDMX voluntarily or involuntarily (n=307). In the sample, age 18 to 62 (mean 34.7 years) 73.2% male, and CDMX sample (63.2% involuntary returned).

Results: The findings examine alcohol use; the AUDIT a 10-item questionnaire of 0 to 40 scores where ≥8 specifies hazardous or harmful consumption. A logistic regression for the unadjusted model getting robbed during crossing (OR=2.12, 95% CI= 1.01-4.44), more than one return to Mexico (OR= 1.00, 95% CI=1.49-4.03) had increased odds of hazardous or harmful consumption of alcohol.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate involuntary return migrants in CDMX have higher prevalence of alcohol use with their migration experience. Factors getting robbed during crossing, and more than one return to Mexico impact the frequency of hazardous or harmful consumption of alcohol.

Authors

• Leticia Morales, University of Southern California

• Alice Cepeda, University of Southern California

• Avelardo Valdez, University of Southern California