Nurse Faculty Scholars - Sexual health

Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to reporting of forced sex by African-American college women.

lsharp — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:04:56 +0000

Published Date:

Sun, 2009-12-20 (All day)

Forced sex is a public health issue affecting many college women. Despite physical and mental health consequences, and multiple prevention programs on college campuses, most sexual violence goes unreported (Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner, 2003). The purpose of this research was to determine the significant attitudes and beliefs that are associated with reporting of forced sexual experiences. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study used a predictive exploratory design to explore the association of intention to report forced sex with attitudes and beliefs (Ajzen, 1991). A convenience sample of 144 African-American women who were attending a private college in the south completed a survey. Women who expressed more favorable attitudes towards reporting, perceived reporting as being supported by important referents, and perceived more control over reporting, reported stronger intentions to report forced sex. The analysis supported the utility of TPB in predicting the intention to report forced sex by African-American college women. Theoretically significant and clinically relevant prevention strategies should incorporate important referents, address salient beliefs, and determine ways to increase perceived behavioral control.

Predicting incidence and asymptomatic rates for chlamydia in small domains

lsharp — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:03:40 +0000

Published Date:

Mon, 2010-08-23 (All day)

Aim. This article is a report of a study of the use of predictive analysis using the Bayesian hierarchical model and small area estimation as an innovative methodology to address the challenges nurses face when managing fiscal and clinical resources in outpatient and inpatient settings.

Background. Nurses responsible for clinic management are confronted with the fiscal challenges in today’s healthcare environment. Identifying those at risk for asymptomatic infections such as chlamydia and getting resources to that group has been a constant nursing care challenge for those in outpatient and inpatient clinics.

Methods. A secondary analysis of quantitative survey data was conducted in 2008, using predictive analysis with the Bayesian hierarchical model and small area estimation of statistics.

Discussion. The development of an innovative statistical procedure is an interesting and challenging opportunity. The opportunity to apply this innovative technique to an actual data set opens the possibility to replicating the technique and using it in other settings. If implemented and replicated, this innovative analysis can become a tool for managing limited fiscal and clinical resources.

Results. White, Hispanic and African American undergraduate students had slightly higher rates than the corresponding graduate students. The incidence rates were higher for White, Hispanic and African American undergraduate students than for graduate students. The incidence rates for African Americans were much higher than for the other identified racial groups, but very similar for graduate students and undergraduate students.

Conclusion. Predictive analysis using the Bayesian hierarchal model and small area estimation can help nurses to project healthcare costs and services for underserved groups in healthcare clinics, with an improved empirical rationale.

Hip Hop, Health, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): Using Wireless Technology to Increase HPV Vaccination Uptake

lsharp — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:01:07 +0000

Published Date:

Tue, 2010-06-01 (All day)

National incidence rates of cervical cancer are disproportionately higher in African-American women, and cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection impose an enormous health burden of over $3.7 billion annually. Current efforts to use Hip Hop culture to address health disparities include disease prevention and health promotion. The use of Hip Hop cultural cues for HPV vaccination uptake and education was developed through an interdisciplinary collaboration. Interventions that incorporate youth values and beliefs are needed to reduce an escalating HPV infection trajectory. Prior research has shown that Hip Hop music has a significant influence on the sexual attitudes and behaviors of African-American emerging young women, providing a context within which to prevent risky behaviors. The current study examines the efficacy of a Hip Hop-based HPV vaccination uptake feasibility project that integrates wireless technology among African-American female college students. Findings suggest that cultural relevance of Hip Hop to the lives of young African-American women increases the acceptability of transmitted health messages. Discussion is centered on implications of wireless technology and Hip Hop as a viable approach to increase HPV vaccination, and a formal randomized control trial is planned.

History of Forced Sex and Recent Sexual Risk Indicators Among Young Adult Males

nfs — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:57:11 +0000

Published Date:

Fri, 2010-04-09 (All day)

CONTEXT: It is unclear whether young adult men who have ever been forced to have sex are at increased risk for sexual risk-taking, and whether their risk differs according to the gender of the perpetrator.

METHODS: Data from 1,400 males aged 18–24 who participated in the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth were used to determine the prevalence of a history of forced sex and the context of each respondent’s most recent experience with such assaults. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between victimization and having a recent indicator of sexual risk (e.g., having had sex in the past year with five or more female partners, a female injection-drug user or an HIV-positive female). Separate analyses were performed for coercion by females and coercion by males.

RESULTS: Six percent of men reported having been forced by a female perpetrator to have vaginal intercourse, while 1% said they had been forced by a male perpetrator to have oral or anal sex. Men had an elevated likelihood of having had one or more recent sexual risk indicators if they had ever been forced to have sex by a male (odds ratio, 6.9) or female (3.3). Verbal and physical forms of coercion and provision of alcohol and drugs were commonly used by perpetrators of both genders.

CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the pathways linking sexual victimization to sexual risk-taking among men is needed. Clinicians working with young men should screen them for victimization and provide STD testing and referrals for counseling if abuse is suspected or disclosed.

Social Disparities in the Receipt of Contraceptive Services Among Sexually Experienced Adolescent Females

nfs — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:53:57 +0000

Published Date:

Sat, 2010-05-01 (All day)

Social disparities in the receipt of contraceptive services were assessed among a sample of 2,031 sexually experienced adolescent females 15 to 18 years of age using secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Findings revealed no social disparities in receipt of contraceptive services; rather, adolescent females who had a parent with less than a high school degree were more likely to receive contraceptive services. Adolescents' individual characteristics, including perceptions of maternal disapproval of sexual activity and use of contraceptives, barriers in access to and use of birth control, health needs, and enabling resources were significantly associated with their receipt of contraceptive services. Neighborhood characteristics were not significantly associated with adolescents' receipt of services in this study

Health insurance coverage and prescription contraceptive use among young women at risk for unintended pregnancy.

nfs — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:35:27 +0000

Published Date:

Sun, 2009-02-01 (All day)

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the relationships between health insurance coverage and prescription contraceptive use among women 18-24 years of age at risk for unintended pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN: Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth were analyzed. The sample comprised 1049 women 18-24 years of age at risk for unintended pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the likelihood of prescription contraceptive use (1) between uninsured women versus ones with private insurance, Medicaid or another form of government insurance and (2) between those who had consistent versus inconsistent insurance coverage, after adjusting for a range of sociodemographic and sexual health factors.

RESULTS: Twenty percent of the participants were uninsured and over 30% had inconsistent coverage. Only 55% were currently using prescription contraceptives. In multivariate analyses, young women with private insurance or Medicaid were more likely than the uninsured to use prescription contraceptives. No significant differences in prescription contraceptive use were found between other forms of government insurance and uninsurance or between consistent and inconsistent coverage.

CONCLUSIONS: Access to comprehensive health insurance should be considered one strategy to address the high rates of unintended pregnancy among this vulnerable population.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the relationships between health insurance coverage and prescription contraceptive use among women 18-24 years of age at risk for unintended pregnancy.

The Under-Controlled Do It First: Childhood Personality and Sexual Debut

nfs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:57:38 +0000

Published Date:

Sun, 2008-12-14 (All day)

The relationship of childhood personality type to the timing of first sexual intercourse was investigated through survival analysis. Participants from the Child Sample of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were categorized into one of the three personality types at 5 or 6 years of age: under-controlled, resilient, and over-controlled. Those categorized as under-controlled at 5 or 6 years of age were more likely than those resilient or over-controlled to have sexual intercourse before the age of 16. The extent to which three early adolescent factors--team/club membership, church attendance, and peer influence--mediate the association of childhood personality type to the timing of first sexual intercourse was also explored. The association of childhood personality to timing of first sexual intercourse was partially mediated by peer influence at 11 or 12 years of age. The findings are interpreted in light of their implications for researchers and practitioners interested in improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Association of Childhood Personality on Sexual Risk Taking During Adolescence

nfs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:43:39 +0000

Published Date:

Fri, 2008-11-14 (All day)

BACKGROUND: Sexual risk taking during adolescence such as failure to use contraception or condoms is associated with premature parenthood and high rates of sexually transmitted infection. The relation of childhood personality to sexual risk taking during adolescence has been largely unexplored. METHODS: Using data collected from participants in the Child Sample of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (CS-NLSY) when they were 5 or 6 years of age (time 1) and 17 or 18 years of age (time 2), the relation of childhood personality to sexual risk taking during adolescence was investigated. Maternal ratings of childhood personality were used to derive resiliency, undercontrol, and overcontrol prototypical profile scores for a diverse sample of 1219 child participants from the CS-NLSY. At time 2, participants reported whether they failed to use oral contraception or condoms during their last sexual intercourse. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association of personality to sexual risk taking. RESULTS: Proximity to the overcontrolled personality prototype at time 1 was associated with a decreased likelihood of sexual risk taking. Age, male gender, and childhood cognitive achievement were also significant predictors of sexual risk taking. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that children with personality profiles in which internalizing traits are more prominent are less likely than their peers to engage in sexual risk taking during late adolescence. The findings of this study augment previous studies that indicate that personality is an important predictor of development and underscore the importance of conducting research into the processes by which personality influences health behavior.