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Sexual behavior and condom practices among Los Angeles women.

BACKGROUND: The sociodemographic correlates of the number of recent sexual partners and condom use are investigated in a population-based sample of 1,178 unmarried women living in Los Angeles County. RESULTS: Asian Americans, foreign born, and older women are less likely to be sexually active and that more educated and previously married women are more likely. Among the sexually active (n = 909), Hispanic women and older women are less likely to have multiple partners, and younger and previously married women more are more likely. African-American women and younger women are more likely to use condoms; older and previously married women are less likely. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicate that women-centered primary and secondary prevention efforts may benefit from targeting women not previously considered, such as women of post-reproductive age and divorced women.

Adult↗

Sex, alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases: a national survey.

The analysis of a representative national survey of households provides strong evidence that alcohol overshadows illicit drug use as a risk factor for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Men and women who report a history of STDs are significantly more likely to have a history of problem drinking, independent of high-risk sexual activities and demographic characteristics. However, a high rate of change in sexual partners over the past five years also increases the chance of STD infection. Sexual orientation is a major STD risk factor among men but not among women. Although both black men and black women are at greater risk of STDs than are those in other racial or ethnic groups, results indicate that black women's greater likelihood of having sex with men who have multiple partners, rather than their own rates of partner change, makes the crucial difference between their risk and that of white women.

Adult↗

Hepatitis B: transmission by sexual contact and needle sharing.

In the Western world most cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are acquired through sexual intercourse and through needle sharing by intravenous drug users (IVDU). The major risk factors for HBV infection in homosexual men include the number of sex partners and receptive anal intercourse. In heterosexuals, this risk also rises with an increasing number of sex partners. IVDU consistently show the highest HBV infection rates in Europe and North America, presently accounting for 25 to 50% of all hepatitis B cases. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus affects the course of HBV infection as well as the immunological response to hepatitis B vaccines. Thus, in the industrialized world, interventions against HBV infection should primarily be targeted to homosexual men, heterosexuals with multiple partners, and IVDU.

HIV Infections↗

Incidence and prevalence of chlamydia, herpes, and viral hepatitis in a homeless adolescent population.

BACKGROUND: High rates of unprotected intercourse and illegal drug use have been reported among homeless adolescents. As a transient population with the potential to act as disease vectors from one location to another, incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in this population are of particular concern. GOAL: To assess a homeless adolescent population for incidence and prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus type 2, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, HIV, and psychosocial correlates of the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal with assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months (n = 536; 319 males and 217 females). RESULTS: Baseline prevalence of C trachomatis was 4.17% for males and 6.30% for females. Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 was 5.73% for males and 12.50% for females. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus prevalences were 3.60% and 5.0%, respectively. HIV seroprevalence was 0.3%. The incidence of sexually transmitted infections was significantly higher among females than among males (16.7% versus 9.8%) and was associated with inconsistent condom use and, for females, number of partners and sex with older partners. Incident hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection rates were 3.44% and 6.61%, respectively; both were associated with injection drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Among females, the incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (> 25%) and C trachomatis (12%) was relatively high. Inconsistent condom use was the primary factor associated with a significantly greater risk of incident sexually transmitted infections. This was especially true for females with multiple partners. Homeless adolescents also are at high risk for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection, primarily associated with self-reported injection drug use.

Adolescent↗

Multiple-risk behaviour in adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVES: This article examines the prevalence of four risk behaviours among teenagers and young adults: smoking, binge drinking, sex with multiple partners, and sex without a condom. DATA SOURCE: The data are from a Health Canada-sponsored supplement to the 1994/95 National Population Health Survey. The analysis is based on 905 respondents aged 15 to 19 and 1,055 respondents aged 20 to 24. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Prevalence estimates of the four risk behaviours were calculated for males and females in each age group. An index of multiple-risk behaviour was derived by summing the four risk behaviours. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine how sets of variables are related to multiple-risk behaviour. MAIN RESULTS: Multiple-risk behaviour was higher among young people who had never married, who were not students, and who did not live with a parent. Feeling distressed was positively linked with multiple-risk behaviour, while regular attendance at religious services was negatively linked with such conduct.

Adolescent↗

Factors predicting continued high-risk behavior among gay men in small cities: psychological, behavioral, and demographic characteristics related to unsafe sex.

Nearly 6,000 men entering gay bars in 16 small American cities were anonymously surveyed to assess their sexual behavior and to determine predictors of risky sexual practices. Excluding individuals in long-term exclusive relationships, 27% of the men reported engaging in unprotected anal intercourse in the past 2 months. Factors strongly predictive of risk included having a large number of different male partners, estimating oneself to be at greater risk, having weak intentions to use condoms at next intercourse, believing that safer sex is not an expected norm within one's peer reference group, being of younger age, and having less education. These findings indicate that HIV prevention efforts are urgently needed for gay men in smaller cities, with efforts particularly focused on young and less educated men sexually active with multiple partners. Prevention should focus on strengthening intentions to change behavior and on changing social norms to foster safer sex.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Erection loss in association with condom use among young men attending a public STI clinic: potential correlates and implications for risk behaviour.

BACKGROUND: To assess prevalence of condom-associated erection loss and to identify correlates of erection loss among men attending a sexually transmissible infections (STI) clinic. METHODS: Men (n = 278) attending an STI clinic responded to an anonymous questionnaire aided by a CD recording of the questions. The sample was screened to include only men who had used a condom during penile-vaginal sex at least three times in the past 3 months. Erection loss was assessed for 'the last three times a condom was used'. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 23.7 years (s.d. = 4.1); 37.1% of the men reported condom-associated erection loss on at least one occasion. Men who had reported condom-associated erection loss were also reported having more frequent unprotected vaginal sex (P = 0.04) and were less likely to use condoms consistently (P = 0.014) than men without erection loss. Men with erection loss were also more likely to remove condoms before sex was over (P = 0.001). Age and race/ethnicity were not associated with erection loss. In multivariate analysis, three significant statistical predictors were identified: low self-efficacy to use condoms (P = 0.001); problems with 'fit or feel' of condoms (P = 0.005); and having more than three sex partners during the previous 3 months (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Condom-associated erection loss may be common among men at risk for STIs. This problem may lead to incomplete or inconsistent condom use. Men may be more likely to experience condom-associated erection loss if they lack confidence to use condoms correctly, if they experience problems with the way condoms fit or feel, and if they have sex with multiple partners.

Adult↗

Differences in teenage pregnancy rates among five developed countries: the roles of sexual activity and contraceptive use.

CONTEXT: Adolescent pregnancy, birth, abortion and sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates are much higher in the United States than in most other developed countries. METHODS: Government statistics or nationally representative survey data were supplemented with data collected by private organizations or for regional or local populations to conduct studies of adolescent births, abortions, sexual activity and contraceptive use in Canada, the United States, Sweden, France and Great Britain. RESULTS: Adolescent childbearing is more common in the United States (22% of women reported having had a child before age 20) than in Great Britain (15%), Canada (11%), France (6%) and Sweden (4%); differences are even greater for births to younger teenagers. A lower proportion of teenage pregnancies are resolved through abortion in the United States than in the other countries; however, because of their high pregnancy rate, U.S. teenagers have the highest abortion rate. The age of sexual debut varies little across countries, yet American teenagers are the most likely to have multiple partners. A greater proportion of U.S. women reported no contraceptive use at either first or recent intercourse (25% and 20%, respectively) than reported nonuse in France (11% and 12%, respectively), Great Britain (21% and 4%, respectively) and Sweden (22% and 7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Data on contraceptive use are more important than data on sexual activity in explaining variation in levels of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing among the five developed countries; however, the higher level of multiple sexual partnership among American teenagers may help explain their higher STD rates.

Abortion, Induced↗

Current etiopathogenetic views in vulvar cancer.

We considered 59 patients, from 19 to 79 years, treated for vulvar neoplastic pathology (32 of 59 had multiple squamous neoplasias of the anogenital region). It appeared that vulvar cancer is a disease of aged women and in particular between sixty and seventy years, while it isn't common under the age of thirty years. It is a hormone-independent pathology. 85% of vulvar malignant tumors is constituted by squamous cell carcinomas. The principal risk factors are: 1) chronic vulvitis (in particular Lichen sclerosus); 2) leucoplachia, 3) immunosuppression, 4) coitus in a young woman with different partners, multiple abortions, 5) HPV infection (mostly HPV type 6 and 16), 6) other genital carcinomas, 7) capacity to activate or not protoncogenes and to produce interferon, 8) tobacco smoking, 9) VIN.

Adult↗

Proxy measurements in multiple sclerosis: agreement between patients and their partners on the impact of multiple sclerosis in daily life.

BACKGROUND: The use of self-report measurements in clinical settings has increased. The underlying assumption for self-report measurements is that the patient understands the questions fully and is able to give a reliable assessment of his or her own health status. This might be problematic in patients with limitations that interfere with reliable self-assessment such as cognitive impairment or serious mood disturbances, as may be the case in multiple sclerosis. In these situations proxies may provide valuable information, provided we can be certain that proxies and patients give consistent ratings. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether patients with multiple sclerosis and their partners agree on the impact of multiple sclerosis on the daily life of the patient by using the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29). METHODS: 59 patients with multiple sclerosis and their partners completed the MSIS-29. Agreement was examined, comprehensively at scale score levels and item functioning, using both traditional and less conventional psychometric methods (Rasch analysis). RESULTS: Agreement between patients and partners was good for the physical scale, and slightly less but still adequate for the psychological scale. Mean directional differences did not show considerable systematic bias between patients and proxies. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) satisfied the requirements for agreement, but were higher for the physical scale (0.81) than for the psychological scale (0.72). These findings were supported by Rasch analyses. CONCLUSION: In this sample, albeit small, partners provided accurate estimates of the impact of multiple sclerosis. This supports the value of self-rating scales and indicates that partners might be useful sources of information when assessing the impact of multiple sclerosis on the daily life of patients.

Adult↗

Influence of sexual abuse on HIV-related attitudes and behaviors in adolescent psychiatric inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between sexual abuse and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related attitudes and behaviors of adolescents with a psychiatric disorder. METHOD: HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were examined by self-report assessment of adolescents admitted to a psychiatric hospital (N = 100). A subsample (n = 30) completed a role-playing exercise regarding HIV-preventive behavior that was scored for the degree of effective communication by raters blind to the subjects' abuse history. RESULTS: HIV-related risk behaviors were prevalent, including unprotected sexual intercourse (67%) and multiple partners (27%) among the sexually active (71% of the total). Also frequent were alcohol and drug use (25%) and sharing cutting instruments (22%) among those engaged in self-cutting behavior (62%). The 38% of the sample identified as having a history of sexual abuse indicated significantly poorer self-efficacy concerning condom use than their peers. Abused females scored significantly lower on the self-efficacy of condom use scale and reported significantly more frequent alcohol use than nonabused females (p = .003). A hierarchical multiple regression that controlled for consistency of condom use and tolerance of people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome found that abuse history uniquely accounted for 16% of the variance in condom use self-efficacy. Analysis of the videotaped role-play found that abused adolescents were significantly less competent and had more difficulty in effective communication than their peers (p = .003). CONCLUSION: A history of sexual abuse is associated with impaired safe sexual decision-making and HIV-preventive communication skills, even in this already at-risk group. This study also underscores the importance of actively addressing these issues in the context of clinical care.

Adolescent↗

Evaluating the impact of peer, nurse case-managed, and standard HIV risk-reduction programs on psychosocial and health-promoting behavioral outcomes among homeless women.

Investigators examined the 6-month impact of three cognitive-behavioral HIV risk-reduction programs on behavioral factors (substance use and sexual risk behaviors) and cognitive and psychological resources of 325 women who resided in emergency or sober-living shelters and their 308 intimate sexual partners. Participants were randomized by shelter to a peer-mentored, a nurse case-managed, or a standard care HIV risk-reduction program. Significant improvements were observed in all groups in all behavioral factors and cognitive and psychological resources except for self-esteem. Participants in the peer-mentored and nurse case-managed groups did not differ significantly from the standard group in self-esteem, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, use of noninjection drugs, sex with multiple partners, and unprotected sex at 6 months (n = 633). It was concluded that a standard approach by health care professionals appears to effectively modify HIV risk behaviors for a majority of homeless participants and may have important economic and policy implications. Further, the impact of short-term programs that address psychological vulnerabilities of impoverished populations needs to be studied further.

Adolescent↗

Sexual behavior and vaginal colonization by group B streptococcus among minority women.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that sexual behaviors predict colonization of the vagina by group B streptococcus among minority women. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, descriptive study of 192 consecutive African-American (37%) and Hispanic women (63%). Each woman underwent a detailed interview concerning sexual behavior. Separate specimens were taken from the endocervix, upper vagina, lower vagina, and anorectum and placed in selective broth media for isolation of group B streptococcus. Significant behavioral predictors of vaginal group B streptococcus colonization and heavy (3-4+) colonization were identified using stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence of vaginal colonization was 39% and heavy colonization was 35%. Nineteen percent reported anal intercourse, 46% reported sex at least two times per week, and 21% reported more than one partner in the previous 30 days. The significant predictors of vaginal group B streptococcal infection were: African-American ethnicity, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 6.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5-15.1); presence of rectal group B streptococcus, adjusted OR 100.6 (95% CI 26.7-379.3); nulliparous, adjusted OR 3.6 (95% CI 1.4-9.5); and nonpregnant status, adjusted OR 3.9 (95% CI 1.3-12.2). The significant predictors of heavy colonization were: more than one partner in the last 30 days, adjusted OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.2-5.6); and African-American ethnicity, adjusted OR 2.3 (95% CI 1.2-4.5). Anal intercourse was associated with a reduced likelihood of vaginal group B streptococcal infection, adjusted OR 0.34 (95% CI 0.12-0.91). CONCLUSION: Sexual behavior, especially anal intercourse, does not predict vaginal colonization by group B streptococcus. African-American women are more likely to have vaginal and heavy group B streptococcus colonization. Heavy vaginal colonization is associated with multiple partners in African-American women.

Adult↗

Experience of sexual coercion among adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria.

This study surveyed 1,025 adolescent students and apprentices in Ibadan, Nigeria, to document their sexual behaviour and experience of sexual coercion including verbal threats, unwanted touch, unwanted kiss, assault, deception, drugging, attempted rape, and rape. Sixty five per cent of male and 48% of female apprentices were sexually experienced, compared to 32% of male and 24% of female students. More males than females reported sex with multiple partners and contact with a sex worker while females had exchanged sex for money and gifts. Fifty five per cent of all the subjects had been victims of at least one type of sexual coercion, the commonest being unwanted kiss and touch of breasts (47%). Although both males and females were victims of coercion, females were disproportionately affected--68% of female students and 70% of apprentices had experienced one coercive behaviour, compared to 42% of male students and 40% of apprentices. Female apprentices fared worst, with 19% of them raped. The main perpetrators of the coercion were persons well known to the victims including neighbours, peers and boy/girlfriends. We recommend multiple intervention programs including skills training for young persons, sensitisation workshop for training health workers, and media advocacy for the public to challenge stereotypes that favour sexual coercion of adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infection among African and Caribbean men in London.

We studied 180 black heterosexual men of whom 133 (74%) were Caribbean and 47 (26%) African. Seventy-three per cent of Caribbeans and 27% of Africans were UK born. We found no difference in age, but more Africans were married (30% cf 10%; P=0.002) and students (26% cf 10%; P=0.00008). More Caribbeans smoked 1-10 cigarettes a day (42% cf 22%; P=0.02) and more drank alcohol (89% cf 74%; P=0.002). Sixty-nine per cent of Caribbeans reported intercourse before the age of 17 compared with 48% of Africans (P=0.004), but there was no difference in the numbers of sexual partners, either in the previous year or in total. Twenty-four (18%) of the 133 Caribbeans had gonorrhoea compared with one (2%) of the 47 Africans (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that coitarche under 16 years of age (odds ratio (OR) 50) and gonococcal and/or chlamydial infection (OR 12.5) were independently associated with Caribbeans. Within this group, gonorrhoea was found more often in teenagers (OR 9.5) who had commenced intercourse before the age of 16 (OR 3.3) and chlamydial infection in those with multiple partners (OR 24). New problem-orientated approaches are needed to eradicate these curable infections which facilitate infection with HIV.

Adult↗

Sexually transmitted diseases in a health maintenance organization teen clinic: associations of race, partner's age, and marijuana use.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of sociodemographic risk markers and behavioral risk factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in sexually experienced youth seeking care at an urban, general health maintenance organization teen clinic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive, racially and ethnically diverse sample of 285 sexually experienced youth who were preponderantly female (58.6%) and who were aged 16.7 years on average. METHODS: All participants completed a self-report questionnaire and were screened for Chlamydia trachomatis using the ligase chain reaction technique and for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other STDs using conventional methods. RESULTS: Many of these youth were at high risk for STDs, having a self-reported history of sex with multiple partners (49.1%), sex with a new partner (42.5%), inconsistent use of condoms (71.9%), and frequent substance use (24.5% used marijuana 1-2 times per week or more). Sexually transmitted disease screening revealed that 11.6% of the participants had 1 or more STDs. A logistic regression analysis to determine the best model for predicting STDs indicated that youth who are African American (odds ratio, 3.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-7.35), had sexual partners who were 2 or more years older (odds ratio, 2.63, 95% confidence interval, 1.22-5.67), and used marijuana 1 to 2 times or more per week (odds ratio, 2.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.13) were more likely to have STDs at screening. CONCLUSIONS: A brief sociodemographic and behavioral risk assessment that includes these factors may be useful for clinicians in deciding when to screen for STDs in sexually active youth seeking care for reasons not related to reproductive health.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors for cervical cancer in Greenland and Denmark: a population-based cross-sectional study.

The incidence of cervical cancer in Greenlandic women aged 20-39 years is nearly 6 times higher than in Danish women of the same age. Possible determinants of cervical cancer incidence were investigated in a population-based cross-sectional study. From Nuuk (Greenland) and Nykøbing Falster (Denmark) a sample of 800 women aged 20-39 years was drawn at random. A total of 586 and 661 women were studied in Greenland and Denmark, respectively. All underwent a personal interview. In Greenland, 13% of the women reported first intercourse before the age of 14 in contrast to 3.5% in Denmark, and nearly 85% of the Greenlanders had their sexual debut before the end of the 16th year of age whereas this applied to only 45% of the Danish women. The prevalence of women with 0-1 lifetime sexual partner was 20.4% in Denmark, and only 1.7% in Greenland. In contrast, 53.2% of the Greenlandic women reported more than 20 partners and 22.4% more than 40 partners. The corresponding figures for Denmark were 3.6% and 0.3%, respectively. In Greenland the most common contraceptive method was the use of intra-uterine devices (73.6%), whereas, in Denmark, oral contraceptive use was most frequent (87.9%). Few Greenlanders had ever used "barrier" contraceptives (diaphragm: 1.4%; condom: 18.1%) compared to Denmark (diaphragm: 10.1%; condom: 53.9%). As many as 87.4% were current smokers in Greenland (Denmark: 53.6%) and 5.6% claimed to have never smoked, whereas this applied to 35.3% in Denmark. The indications of a higher sexual activity (multiple partners, early age at first intercourse) in Greenland compared to Denmark are in line with the observed higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and with the hypothesis that differences in cervical cancer incidence between Greenland and Denmark are determined by aspects of sexual background.

Adult↗

A decade of HIV/AIDS prevention in Sweden: changes in attitudes associated with HIV and sexual risk behaviour from 1987 to 1997.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to monitor the changes in determinants of HIV-related attitudes and behaviour over a 10 year period. DESIGN/METHODS: In the past decade, over 11,000 individuals in Sweden participated in this repeated cross-sectional study to assess the changes in attitudes and behaviour associated with HIV. Changes in the fear of persons who are HIV seropositive, optimism that scientists will find a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS, engagement in discussions concerning HIV/AIDS as well as condom use, the number of sexual partners, and frequency of unprotected casual sex were assessed during four study years, 1987, 1989, 1994, and 1997. RESULTS: The findings of this study suggest that changes in attitudes regarding HIV were more robust whereas only modest changes in sexual behaviour were observed. The fear of HIV-seropositive persons, optimism that a cure or vaccine would be developed, and engagement in discussions concerning HIV all decreased over the 10 year period. A trend in increased condom use was observed, particularly in younger participants, but little change in sex with multiple partners and unprotected casual sex was observed between 1987 and 1997. CONCLUSION: Changes in attitudes regarding HIV are usually more often observed than changes in sexual behaviour. However, increased condom use in younger participants may be reflective of secular changes in sexual behaviour that may facilitate the prevention of HIV in Sweden.

Adolescent↗