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At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

The role of mother-daughter sexual risk communication in reducing sexual risk behaviors among urban adolescent females: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To prospectively examine the relationship between mother-daughter communication about sex and selected sexual risk behaviors among inner-city adolescent females. METHODS: Participants were 219 sexually experienced females, 12 to 19 years of age, recruited from an inner-city adolescent medicine clinic in Philadelphia, PA, and randomly assigned to the control group of an HIV-risk reduction intervention study. Analyses were limited to data from control group participants to avoid confounding intervention effects. Poisson regression was employed to model three self-reported sexual risk behaviors: number of male sexual partners, number of episodes of sexual intercourse, and number of episodes of unprotected intercourse. Mediation effects were evaluated using variables from the Theory of Planned Behavior. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Higher levels of mother-daughter sexual risk communication were associated with fewer episodes of sexual intercourse and unprotected intercourse at 3-month follow-up. There was evidence that the relationship of communication to unprotected intercourse was mediated by condom use self-efficacy. Mother-daughter sexual risk communication was not significantly associated with adolescents' reports of numbers of male sexual partner. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study supports the notion that mothers who communicate with their daughters about sex can affect their daughters' sexual behaviors in positive ways. These findings lend support for the design and implementation of family-based approaches to improve parent-adolescent sexual risk communication as one means of reducing HIV-related sexual risk behaviors among inner-city adolescent females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Age of initiating selected health-risk behaviors among high school students in the United States.

PURPOSE: To estimate and compare the age of initiation of alcohol use, cigarette smoking, sexual intercourse, and marijuana use among female and male students in U.S. high schools. METHODS: Using data from the 1991 and 1993 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, life-table analysis was used to create hypothetical cohorts to estimate age of initiation of selected health-risk behaviors. The sample size was 12,272 in 1991 and 16,296 in 1993, with an overall response rate of 68% in 1991 and 70% in 1993. RESULTS: Male students initiate each of these behaviors earlier than female students, but the pace of initiation for females accelerates so that by age 15 years the cumulative proportion of male and female students who have initiated these behaviors is similar. For both female and male students, the youngest cohort appears to initiate use of alcohol and sexual intercourse at earlier ages than older cohorts. Similarly, the younger cohorts of female students appear to initiate smoking cigarettes and using marijuana at earlier ages than older cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Many high school students are initiating alcohol use, cigarette smoking, sexual intercourse, and marijuana use at early ages. These data suggest a need for intensive intervention programs by middle/junior high school to motivate and prepare students to avoid these behaviors. Clinicians should begin screening and counseling for risk behaviors in early adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

HIV risk behavior patterns, predictors, and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in the social networks of young Roma (Gypsy) men in Sofia, Bulgaria.

OBJECTIVES AND GOAL: This research studied predictors of high-risk sexual practices and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevalence among Roma (Gypsy) men's social networks in Sofia, Bulgaria. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-four socially active individuals, approached in Roma neighborhood venues, recruited members (n = 296) of their own networks into the study. Participants completed sociometric and risk behavior interviews and were tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomonas. RESULTS: Men had a mean of 7 partners in the past year. Fifty-nine percent had multiple partners in the past 3 months. Seventy-three percent reported recent unprotected vaginal and 51% unprotected anal intercourse. Fifty-nine percent of men had sex with other men in the past year. Twenty-two percent had one of the STDs. The social network to which an individual belonged accounted for 23% to 27% of variance in predicting sexual risk behavior. CONCLUSIONS: One's social network was the most powerful predictor of HIV risk behavior. HIV/STD prevention interventions directed toward entire social networks are especially promising.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Influence of psychiatric comorbidity on HIV risk behaviors: changes during drug abuse treatment.

This study evaluated whether psychiatric comorbidity is related to change in HIV high risk behaviors during outpatient drug abuse treatment. Participants were opioid abusers entering methadone treatment. Psychiatric and substance use diagnoses were determined at intake. Information on HIV high risk drug use and sexual behaviors, psychosocial functioning, and urine toxicology was assessed at intake and at month six. Subjects were divided into those with versus without a lifetime comorbid non-substance use psychiatric disorder. The comorbid group reported more injection equipment sharing, lower rates of condom use, and higher rates of alcohol use at intake and follow-up. Overall injection drug use behavior decreased over the follow-up period for both groups, however. Methadone treatment had a beneficial effect on HIV risk behaviors, and though some risk behaviors improved signiticantly for both groups, comorbid subjects continued to have higher rates of HIV risk factors than noncomorbid subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Using path analysis to examine adolescent suicide attempts, life satisfaction, and health risk behavior.

This study determined if differences existed between four race/gender groups in regard to attempted suicide among a randomly selected, cross-sectional population of 4,565 public high school students in South Carolina. A modified Youth Risk Behavior Survey was designed to gather information on quality of life, life satisfaction, and six risk-behavior categories. Data first were analyzed using logistic regression analysis and subsequently analyzed using path analysis. Results suggest several independent variables (feelings of intimidation, alcohol and cocaine use, self-perceptions of mental health, self-perceptions of body weight, dieting practices, bulimic episodes, and physical and sexual abuse) were associated significantly (p < .01) with adolescent attempted suicide either directly or indirectly through mediating variables. Significant associations among risk behaviors, mediating variables, and self-reported attempted suicide varied across the four race/gender groups, indicating a need to further study differences noticed in each race/gender scheme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Study on AIDS related risk behaviors and the correlated factors among three groups of population in Sichuan province].

OBJECTIVE: To provide the basis for AIDS intervention, the study on the relationship between AIDS related risk behaviors and the related factors was carried out among prostitutes, injection drug users and long-distance truck drivers. METHODS: Questionnaire investigation and statistical analysis as chi(2) test, F test, logistic regression were adopted to analysis the relationship between AIDS related risk behaviors and the correlated factors. RESULTS: Knowledge about AIDS seemed to be related to their level of understanding the problem (in commercial sex workers r = 0.307, P = 0.000, in injection drug users F = 93.07, P = 0.000, in truck man F = 30.06, P = 0.000). Condom use when entertaining their clients last time was related to the knowledge of HIV transmission in commercial sex workers and truck drivers (OR = 1.171, 1.145) and knowledge of HIV prevention (OR = 1.081, 1.397), in drug users regarding gender difference (OR = 2.121). CONCLUSION: This study addressed that the effective means to reduce the rate of AIDS risk behaviors and to lessen the harm of AIDS are to improve the knowledge of AIDS and the effective methods to prevent AIDS in the high risk population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2006

Perceived parental monitoring and health risk behavior among public secondary school students in El Salvador.

Although parental monitoring has received considerable attention in studies of U.S. adolescents, few published studies have examined how parents' knowledge of their children's whereabouts may influence health risk behaviors in adolescents living in Latin America. We investigated the association between perceived parental monitoring and substance use, fighting, and sexual behaviors in rural and urban Salvadoran adolescents (n = 982). After adjusting for several sociodemographic covariates, multilevel regression analyses indicated that students reporting low parental monitoring were between 2 to 3.5 times more likely to report risk behaviors examined. The promotion of specific parenting practices such as parental monitoring may hold promise for reducing adolescent risk behaviors in El Salvador.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral risk factor and illness day changes with workplace health promotion: two-year results.

PURPOSE: The impact of a workplace health promotion program was evaluated to determine changes in the number and level of seven behavioral risks and self-reported illness days. DESIGN: The study employed a pretest/posttest intervention group (N=7,178) with a two-year follow-up and a time-lagged, nonequivalent comparison group (N=7,101). SETTING: The study population was drawn from a large manufacturing company with more than 100 United States locations. SUBJECTS: Approximately one half of the study population was 40 years of age or older, 75% were males, 90% were white, and about 40% were hourly manufacturing employees. INTERVENTION: The program consisted of 1) training and support of coordinators; 2) health risk appraisals; 3) on-site classes, safety meetings, and self-help options; 4) environmental changes, e.g., smoking policy, cafeteria offerings, and blood pressure machines; and 5) recognition. MEASURES: A 38-item health appraisal included self-report of illness days and behavioral risks, as well as information from company physical examinations. RESULTS: Both the number and the level of behavioral risk factors improved over two years. The proportion of employees with three or more risk factors decreased by 14% (p less than .001). The number of self-reported illness days in this group decreased by 12% during the same period (p less than .001). No change in illness days was observed in the group with fewer than three risk factors. Risk levels improved (range = 4.5% to 79%) for six of seven factors among high-risk individuals. CONCLUSIONS: (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The behavioral risk factor surveys: II. Design, methods, and estimates from combined state data.

Behavioral risk factor (BRF) telephone surveys were conducted by 28 states and the District of Columbia from April 1981 through October 1983 to obtain baseline prevalence estimates for risk factors associated with the leading causes of death among adults. A supplemental survey was conducted to cover the remaining states (except Hawaii) in order to provide individual states with national-level data for comparison purposes. The complex sampling designs and variable sampling rates among state surveys required the computation of sample weights before estimates on a national level could be made. Estimates from the combined individual surveys are similar to those obtained from more expensive in-person interviews. The BRF national prevalence estimate of chronic heavier drinking is 8.7 percent, equivalent to the 1979 National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) estimate of 9 percent. The BRF estimate of 31.5 percent for current smokers compares closely with the 32.6 percent estimated by the 1980 Health Interview Survey. Despite recognized technical limitations, this type of telephone survey can be a practical and affordable source of information both for initially gathering prevalence data and for monitoring trends in the prevalence of behavioral risk factors of public health concern.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Injection risk behaviors at the first and at the most recent injections among drug users.

Risk behaviors at the first intravenous substance injection are unknown. A structured questionnaire was used to investigate the circumstances of the first injection and the changes in risk behaviors between the first and the most recent injections in a group of 143 intravenous drug users (IDUs). When they first injected most subjects were not alone, the initiator was an IDU (94%) who prepared the injection (76%) and did it (79%). The proportions of IDUs sharing preparation equipment (58 vs. 14%), borrowing (23 vs. 2%) and lending injecting equipment (26 vs. 4%) decreased between the first and the most recent injection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Behavioral risk factors for injury among rural adolescents.

This 3-year, longitudinal, prospective study examined behavioral risk factors for medically attended injuries among a cohort of 758 rural students from Maryland's Eastern Shore region who were 12-14 years of age in 1987. Students were surveyed annually in the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades with a self-administered questionnaire. Information was obtained on the number of injuries experienced, risk-taking behaviors, delinquency, alcohol and drug use, physical exercise and sports, parental supervision, and work experience. Information on the parents' education was obtained from a parental interview. Slightly more than half (53.5%) of the students reported having experienced one or more injuries in the eighth grade as compared with one-third of the students in ninth grade, and 38% of those in the tenth grade. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of eighth grade variables with ninth grade injuries and ninth grade variables with tenth grade injuries. Results from these analyses indicated that, in addition to sex and race, a high degree of risk taking, frequent cruising, and having high and low parental supervision in the eighth grade significantly increased the number of injuries in ninth grade. In the tenth grade, risk taking continued to be associated with injuries. In addition, students who reported disciplinary problems in school, working 1-10 hours per week, drinking on 1-2 days during the past month, lifetime use of marijuana equal to 1-5 occasions, and involvement in sports experienced greater numbers of injuries in the tenth grade.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Strategies to reduce HIV risk behavior in HIV primary care clinics: brief provider messages and specialist intervention.

Reducing HIV transmission is a critical goal worldwide, prompting new strategies to slow the spread of the virus. This paper describes the theoretical underpinnings of the Comprehensive Harm Reduction Protocol (CHRP) and the process of its implementation in one large urban HIV clinic and two smaller rural primary care clinics. Patients enrolled in CHRP complete the Risk Diagnostic Questionnaire (RDQ), self-reporting HIV transmission risk behavior at most clinic visits. Clinicians review RDQs to trigger dialogue using motivational interviewing and the stages of health behavior change to reduce high-risk behaviors (drug use, alcohol use, or high-risk sexual behavior). In the ongoing evaluation study, CHRP patients receive two provider-only visits before being randomized to continue with provider brief prevention messages only or to receive additional intensive counseling with a risk-reduction specialist following the provider visit. If outcome data support one or both interventions, CHRP could be a useful model for widespread adoption. Observations from the implementation of this protocol are presented in order to facilitate the adoption of this protocol in interested clinics. Later, results of the evaluation of the implementation of the protocol may have value in developing prevention policy in HIV treatment clinics.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed2001

The feasibility of a web-based surveillance system to collect health risk behavior data from college students.

This study examined the feasibility of collecting health risk behavior data from undergraduate students using a Web-based survey. Undergraduates were randomly selected and assigned randomly to a mail survey group and a Web survey group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for demographics, response rates, item completion, and item completion errors. Yet differences were found for response time and sensitive item completion. This is the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting health risk behavior data from undergraduates using the Web. Undergraduates are just as likely to respond to a Web survey compared with a mail survey and more likely to answer socially threatening items using this method. Also, the Web format and protocol required less time to administer. Researchers and practitioners conducting health survey research with college students or other homogeneous populations who have access to e-mail and the Web should consider using a Web-based survey design as an altemative to a mail, self-administered survey. In such a population, a Web-based survey should not discourage participation, particularly if participants are interested in the questionnaire content.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Sexual risk behaviors among rural women of childbearing age.

Given the morbidity and mortality associated with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases among heterosexual women, and the limited information regarding rural women's health, it is timely to holistically examine the determinants of sexual risk behavior(s) among rural women of childbearing age. Use of the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior allows an integrated perspective of demographic characteristics, motivation, problem-solving, self-esteem, and sexual risk behaviors for this population. The 144 subjects in this study included 76 African American and 60 White women (average age 28.76 years, SD 6.58 years). Sexual risk behaviors were defined as more than one sex partner and (partner) not using a condom. African American women reported using condoms more than White women. Younger married women used condoms more than older married women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Risk behaviors and HIV/AIDS prevention education among IDUs in drug treatment in Shanghai.

We estimated seroincidence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the prevalence of risk behaviors among injection drug users (IDUs) who accepted inpatient detoxification by 14-day methadone tapering treatment in the Shanghai Drug Abuse Treatment Center. We also evaluated the effect of an HIV/AIDS prevention education intervention on those IDUs. Data including demographic characteristics, HIV, HBV and HCV seroincidence, sexual and injection-related risk behaviors were collected from 101 IDUs. All subjects received HIV/AIDS prevention education during inpatient detoxification treatment. An HIV-knowledge questionnaire was used to evaluate the effects of this intervention. We found that risk behaviors, including unsafe sex and unclean injection practices, were common among the subjects. The seroincidence of HBV and HCV infection rates was 56.4% and 46.5%, respectively, but no HIV-infected case was found among the subjects. After participating in the HIV/AIDS prevention intervention, subjects' scores (M+/-SD) on the HIV-knowledge questionnaire were significantly improved from baseline (97.29+/-7.42 vs. 31.1+/-12.1). Our study confirmed that IDUs in Shanghai are a high-risk population for blood borne diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C and HIV. HIV/AIDS prevention education increased HIV knowledge, improved understanding of HIV prevention methods and changed attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Therefore, HIV/AIDS prevention education should to be an important component of drug treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS-related risk behaviors and safer sex practices of women in midlife and older in the United States: 1990 to 1992.

Women in midlife and older represent over 25% of all women with AIDS and 4% of all reported AIDS cases in the United States. We present prevalence estimates and demographic correlates of AIDS-related risk behavior and safer sex practices among women in midlife and older from the National AIDS Behavioral Surveys (NABS). Data are of women aged 40 to 75 in the (a) NABS 1 national sample (n = 887), (b) NABS 1 urban sample (n = 2,111), and (c) NABS 2 national sample (n = 624). Data from the baseline survey (NABS 1) revealed that approximately 8% or 4.5 million women aged 40 to 75 engaged in behaviors that might expose them to HIV. Data from the follow-up survey (NABS 2) indicated that the proportion of women who reported a risk factor remained at about 8%. Overall safer sex practices among older women who reported sexual risk behaviors were minimal. Between 90% and 100% had not used condoms in the previous 6 months. Moreover, almost 90% of the women who reported a risk behavior did not perceive themselves to be at risk.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

HIV risk behaviors, knowledge, and prevention service experiences among African American and other offenders.

African Americans are at the intersection of the AIDS epidemic and burgeoning prison and offender populations, yet little is known about offenders' HIV knowledge and risk behaviors or ability to access effective services. We present findings from an exploratory study based on 300 interviews with New York City offenders conducted in 2001-2002. The data indicate relatively high rates of HIV infection and HIV risk behaviors among African American and other offenders. There were no clear patterns of risk behaviors by race/ethnicity. Although overall HIV knowledge level is high, important gaps in HIV knowledge remain and there is widespread skepticism among offenders about government information about HIV/AIDS. In the corrections setting, there is inconsistent access to HIV prevention and education services, and an emphasis on more passive learning materials. To reduce HIV infection rates, there is a need to expand peer-led and culturally- and gender-specific interventions, and to improve access to correctional facilities for community-based HIV service providers. HIV interventions must also be expanded for offenders on probation and parole. Mandatory HIV education and harm reduction approaches should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Health literacy and health risk behaviors among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Limited health literacy is associated with poorer physical and mental health, although the causal pathways are not entirely clear. In this study, the association between health literacy and the prevalence of health risk behaviors was examined among older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 2923 new Medicare, managed-care enrollees was conducted in four U.S. metropolitan areas (Cleveland OH; Houston TX; Tampa FL; Fort Lauderdale-Miami FL). Health literacy was measured using the short form of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. Behaviors investigated included self-reported cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, and seat belt use. RESULTS: Individuals with inadequate health literacy were more likely to have never smoked (46.7% vs. 38.6, p =0.01); to completely abstain from alcohol (75.6% vs. 57.9, p <0.001); and to report a sedentary lifestyle (38.2% vs. 21.6%, p <0.001) compared to those with adequate health literacy. No significant differences were noted by mean body mass index or seat belt use. In multinomial logistic regression models that adjusted for relevant covariates, inadequate health literacy was not found to be significantly associated with any of the health risk behaviors investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Among community-dwelling elderly, limited health literacy was not independently associated with health risk behaviors after controlling for relevant covariates.

Aged↗