Violence and Latino youth: prevention and methodological issues.

Latino communities bear a disproportionate share of violence-related morbidity and mortality, yet little attention has been given to ethnic-cultural differences and their implications for violence prevention research and health promotion efforts. To date, much of what is known about violence among Latinos is based on regional homicide studies. Little formal data exist that assess and substantiate what is known about Latino cultures and their implications for the study of all aspects of violence, particularly prevention. This paper presents an overview of the scope of homicide and intentional injuries in Latino communities, reviews risk factors for intentional injuries, and discusses the implications of ethnic-specific factors for violence prevention and research efforts. Data collection and methodological issues and their implications for violence prevention research and health promotion efforts among Latino populations are specifically addressed.