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Biomedical subjects

Beth A Auslander

Publications and source records attributed to Beth A Auslander.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Measurement of microbicide acceptability among U.S. adolescent girls.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Topical microbicides will only be effective if they are acceptable to potential users. The purpose of this study is to develop a scale to evaluate characteristics and aspects of topical microbicides that are important to adolescent girls. STUDY DESIGN: Girls (n = 207) completed a questionnaire on perceptions of microbicide-like products. RESULTS: A principal components factor analysis with a varimax rotation produced a 6-factor solution. The mean factor scores suggested that girls saw the products positively. Age was positively correlated with "comparison to condoms" and "comfort while using" factor scores and inversely correlated with "negative impact on interpersonal relationships" factor score. Sexually transmitted infection (STI) history was related to higher scores on the "health benefits" and "pleasure" factors. Age, race/ethnicity, and STI history were not related to the other factor scores. CONCLUSION: The current scale shows promise in assessment of microbicide acceptability, and in general, girls expressed positive views about microbicides.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed2005

Genital herpes in adolescents.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections occur commonly among adolescents. Most HSV-2 infections are genital, but genital herpes can be caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2. Weighted means were calculated based on published seroprevalence data on adolescents from the United States and found HSV-1 rates of 53.1 percent for adolescent males and 49.4 percent for adolescent females. The weighted means for HSV-2 was 15 percent for adolescent females and 12 percent for adolescent males. Most individuals who are infected with HSV-2 are unaware of their infection. Healthcare providers of adolescents should consider genital herpes even when an adolescent presents with nonspecific genital symptoms. In this article, we review current recommendations for diagnosis and management and review the psychological sequelae that can be associated with having genital herpes. Finally, we discuss biomedical interventions that are being developed to help reduce the epidemic of HSV and the challenges that these interventions face with regard to implementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Sexual Development and behaviors of adolescents.

Adolescents are faced with many developmental tasks related to sexuality, such as forming romantic relationships and developing their sexual identities. Many adolescents will engage in a variety of sexual behaviors, including perhaps oral and anal sex, during this time period. Almost half will engage in vaginal sexual intercourse by the end of high school. A number of biological, psychosocial, and sociocultural factors can influence adolescents' romantic relationships and sexual behaviors. Some of these factors (eg, exposure to violence in the home, early pubertal development) may increase an adolescent's risk of being in an unhealthy relationship or engaging in sex at an early age. Parents, healthcare providers, and communities can support adolescents through these developmental tasks by forming close, connected relationships with teens and devising age-appropriate messages about the development of healthy sexuality.

Adolescent↗