Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Risk Behavior”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 739 records · Page 41Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Body piercing and high-risk behavior in adolescents.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of body piercing with sociodemographic factors, peer substance use, and high-risk behaviors. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis using Wave II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) Public Use Dataset, a nationally representative, school-based sample of 4337 adolescents, aged 13-18 years, surveyed in 1996. The major predictor variable was body piercing at locations other than the ears. The outcome variables were selected from five areas of high-risk behaviors including sexual intercourse, substance use (problem drinking, smoking, and marijuana use), violent behavior (fighting and inflicting injuries), antisocial behavior (truancy, shoplifting, and running away), and mood problems (depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts). The association between body piercing and peer substance use was also examined. RESULTS: Females (7.2% vs. 1.5%) and older adolescents were more likely to report piercing (all p's <.01) In linear regression analysis, controlling for sociodemographic factors, body piercing was significantly associated with higher levels of peer substance use (beta = 1.40 [99% CI.57-2.23]). In logistic regression analyses, controlling for sociodemographic factors, piercing was associated with sexual intercourse (OR = 4.5 [99% CI 2.1-10.0]), smoking (3.1 [1.6-5.9]), marijuana use (3.0 [1.6-5.9]), truancy (2.6 [1.3-5.3]), running away from home (3.0 [1.2-7.2]), suicidal ideation (2.5 [1.2-4.9]), and suicide attempts (3.0 [1.2-7.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically, body piercing may serve as a marker for higher levels of peer substance use and potential problem behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Behavioral risk factors among Black and White women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: To determine the rates of three behavioral risk factors (depression symptoms, smoking, and drinking) among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and to examine if the rates under investigation differed between Black and White women. METHOD: Subjects were 147 women (47% Black, 53% White) newly diagnosed with breast cancer and participating in an epidemiologic interview study conducted at two metropolitan area cancer centers in the same city. The epidemiologic interview included women's tobacco, alcohol, and drug use history, medical and family history, and depression symptoms. RESULTS: Among all women in the sample, 33% reported clinically significant depression symptoms, 10% currently smoked cigarettes, and 57% currently drank alcohol. Seventy percent of women reported experiencing one or more behavioral risk factors, and White women were more likely than Black women to do so. After controlling for other demographic variables, White women were 50% more likely to report clinical symptoms of depression (odds ratio=1.55, 95% confidence interval=1.03, 2.30) and over two times more likely to report being current drinkers (odds ratio=2.19, 95% confidence interval=1.45, 3.30) than were Black women (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that certain behaviors of Black women may be associated with lower levels of self-reported distress. These findings also suggest the need for further research to examine behavioral comorbidity among women with breast cancer, and the roles that race, ethnicity, and culture may play in their expression.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

A descriptive analysis of HIV risk behavior among men having sex with men attending a large sex resort.

This study assessed the prevalence of various HIV-associated risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a popular sex resort in the southern United States. One hundred fifty men completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire (91% response rate). Men currently resided in 14 states. One sixth reported being HIV-positive. During a typical resort visit, men averaged 4 sex partners. About two thirds of the men had anal sex during a typical resort stay; of these, 21% reported never using condoms and 41% reported always using condoms. HIV risk behavior over the past few months was also assessed. Men averaged 10 sex partners. Meeting partners by means of the Internet (57%) and bathhouses--excluding sex resorts--(40%) was common. Most men (62%) reported having group sex. About one half (49%) engaged in unprotected anal sex. Significant differences in recent frequency of unprotected anal sex between HIV-positive and HIV-negative men were not found (P = 0.74). Among those using condoms, 20% reported not using condoms from start to finish of sex, 7% reported breakage, and 6% reported slippage. Twenty-three percent had anal sex without lubrication. Fisting and the use of nonprescription sildenafil citrate (Viagra) was reported by about one sixth of the men. The findings suggest that MSM attending sex resorts may experience substantial risk of HIV infection. Sex resorts may be an important venue for HIV prevention.

Condoms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing the influence of need to inject and drug withdrawal on drug injectors' perceptions of HIV risk behavior.

This article aims to assess the influence of the need to inject and drug withdrawal on drug injectors' perceptions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behavior inside and outside prison. Complementary qualitative research methods were used with 24 drug injectors in England. It was found that when sterile injecting equipment was unavailable the need to inject and drug withdrawal were important factors on the reported readiness to share injecting equipment. This finding was broadly consistent both outside and inside prison. However, different patterns of responses between these two environments were influenced by the social context in which HIV risk was considered. These perceptions of HIV risk are situationally specific, but the influence of the need for a drug injection and drug withdrawal on HIV risk behavior transcends social settings. Thus, HIV risk reduction strategies should be consistent outside and inside prison.

England↗
PubMed2002

Repeat HIV testing, risk behaviors, and HIV seroconversion among young men who have sex with men: a call to monitor and improve the practice of prevention.

OBJECTIVES: We compared recent risk behaviors and HIV seroconversion among young men who have sex with men (MSM) who were first-time, infrequent, and repeat HIV testers. METHODS: Male adolescents and young men aged 15 to 22 years were randomly sampled, interviewed, counseled, and tested for HIV at 194 gay-identified venues in seven U.S. cities from 1994 through 1998. Analyses were restricted to MSM who reported having never tested or last tested HIV-negative. RESULTS: Of 3430 participants, 36% tested for the first time, 39% had tested infrequently (one or two times), and 26% had tested repeatedly (> or = three times). Compared with first-time testers, repeat testers were more likely to report recent risk behaviors and to acquire HIV (7% versus 4%). Over 75% of repeat testers who seroconverted acquired HIV within 1 year of their last test. Compared with repeat testers, first-time testers reported similar use of health care but delayed testing for nearly 2 additional years after initiating risk. CONCLUSIONS: Many young MSM soon acquire HIV after repeated use of HIV counseling and testing services. Providers must strengthen practices to identify, counsel, and test young MSM and provide enhanced behavioral interventions for those with persistent risks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The effect of venue sampling on estimates of HIV prevalence and sexual risk behaviors in men who have sex with men.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate differences in HIV prevalence and sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) according to their gay venue visit patterns. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey, a population-based sample of men aged 18 to 64 years who self-identified as gay or bisexual were interviewed by telephone regarding their sexual behaviors, HIV serostatus, and gay venue visit patterns. RESULTS: A total of 398 men were recruited for the study. The results showed that frequent gay venue visitors were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Among gay venue attendees who visited different types of gay venues, men who visited sex clubs/bathhouses reported the highest rates of 5 or more male sexual partners and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with secondary partners (62.6% and 34.6%, respectively), gay bar/club attendees and cruisers reported higher rates of having sex with women (8.5% and 14.8%, respectively), and circuit party attendees reported the highest HIV prevalence (40.4%) and serodiscordant UAI (30.2%). CONCLUSIONS: MSM who visited different types of gay venues and with varied visit frequency showed marked differences in sexual risk behaviors, and the differences suggest the importance of weighting procedure to obtain unbiased estimates in venue-based studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing HIV-risk behaviors among HIV-positive urban African Americans.

Urban African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, the virus associated with AIDS. Although incidence and mortality appear to be decreasing in some populations, they continue to remain steady among inner-city African Americans. A major concern is the number of HIV-positive individuals who continue to practice high-risk behaviors. Understanding factors that increase risks is essential for the development and implementation of effective prevention initiatives. Following a constructionist epistemology, this study used ethnography to explore social and cultural factors that influence high-risk behaviors among inner-city HIV-positive African Americans. Leininger's culture care diversity and universality theory guided the study. Individual qualitative interviews were conducted with HIV-positive African Americans in the community to explore social and cultural factors that increase HIV-risky behaviors. For this study, family/kinship, economic, and education factors played a significant role in risky behaviors. Reducing HIV disparity among African Americans is dependent on designing appropriate interventions that enhance protective factors. Clinicians providing care to HIV-positive individuals can play a key role in reducing transmission by recognizing and incorporating these factors when designing effective prevention interventions.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2006

Frequent tanning bed use, weight concerns, and other health risk behaviors in adolescent females (United States).

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between tanning bed use and weight concerns, health risk behaviors, and peer influence. METHODS: The Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) is an ongoing prospective cohort study of adolescents established in 1996. In 1999, a total of 6,373 adolescent females ages 12-18 (offspring of participants in the Nurses Health Study 2) completed the survey. RESULTS: Almost nine percent (8.6%) of the adolescent girls had used a tanning bed 1-9 times and an additional 5.4% had used tanning beds at least 10 times in the past year (frequent users). Logistic regression models revealed that frequent tanning bed use was associated with being highly concerned about weight (OR = 1.5, 95%CI = 1.1, 2.0), frequently dieting to lose weight (OR = 1.5, 95%CI = 1.1, 2.0), using laxatives or vomiting to control weight (OR = 3.6; 95%CI = 2.2-5.8), having friends who placed a lot of importance on being thin (OR = 2.6; 95%CI = 1.3-5.1), smoking cigarettes (OR=1.7, 95%CI = 1.1, 2.6), binge drinking (OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.3, 3.1), using recreational drugs (OR = 3.0; 95%CI = 2.4, 3.8), and trying to look like females in the media (sometimes/pretty much: OR = 1.3, 95%CI = 1.0, 1.8). CONCLUSION: Frequent tanning bed use among adolescent females is associated with a range of health risk behaviors. This effect may be mediated by peer influence and a desire to look like other females in the media. Multi-pronged approaches, particularly those that target attitudes of young females, are needed to combat increased use of tanning beds.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

HIV infection and risk behaviors among heterosexuals in alcohol treatment programs.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and high-risk behaviors among heterosexuals in alcohol treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Five public alcohol treatment centers. SUBJECTS: Consecutive sample of 888 heterosexual clients entering treatment between October 1990 and December 1991. Respondents were 51% black, 10% Hispanic, 33% white, and 76% male. The overall response rate was 68%. MEASUREMENTS: Structured interview and serotesting for HIV antibodies. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of HIV infection was 5% (95% confidence interval, 3% to 6%). There were no significant differences in rates of infection by age, gender, or race. The prevalence of infection in heterosexual respondents without a history of injection drug use was 3% in men and 4% in women, several times higher than published estimates from a similar community-based heterosexual sample. Unsafe sexual practices were common: 54% of respondents reported multiple sexual partners in the previous year, 97% of nonmonogamous respondents did not use condoms during all sexual encounters, and few respondents consistently asked new sexual partners about previous high-risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial prevalence of HIV infection among heterosexual clients in San Francisco (Calif) alcohol treatment programs, much of which is not associated with injection drug use. Because of this and the high prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors, there is a relatively high likelihood of heterosexual spread of HIV among the large population of clients seeking treatment for alcohol dependency. Interventions to prevent HIV spread should become a standard part of alcohol treatment programs.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of anal sex among heterosexuals in California and its relationship to other AIDS risk behaviors.

This paper describes the prevalence of anal sex among heterosexual adults in California and investigates the relationship of anal sex to other risk behaviors associated with AIDS and STDs. The study consisted of telephone interviews with a household probability sample of 3,545 California adults undersampling those age 44 and older. Seven percent of the sexually active respondents, 8% of males, and 6% of females reported having anal sex at least once a month during the year prior to the survey. Of these, most engage in this activity one to five times per month, and about 60% report never using condoms. Younger respondents and those who were not married were more likely to report anal intercourse. Respondents who had anal sex were more likely to report standard AIDS risks and lifestyle risks associated with STDs, and to engage in recreational use of drugs and alcohol. Both anal sex and condom use during anal intercourse were poorly predicted by these demographic and risk variables. It is concluded that a non-trivial proportion of California heterosexual adults engages in anal sex regularly, most without condoms, and those who have anal sex are more likely to have other risk behaviors associated with AIDS and STDs. These results suggest that anal sex must be addressed specifically in clinical and educational programs designed to reduce the spread of AIDS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Hiv prevalence among high risk behavior group persons with herpes zoster infection.

The aim of the two year (2003-2005) study was to study the HIV prevalence among high risk behavior groups of persons with Herpes Zoster infection. For this purpose we have investigated the high risk group patients: 1257 prisoners (1st group), 1543 IDUs (2nd group) and 1350 persons including: homosexuals, persons with history of frequent unprotected sex and persons with hepatitis B and C (3rd group). We revealed the persons with current or previous history of Herpes Zoster, and studied HIV prevalence among them. Besides, we have studied the immune status of revealed HIV positive persons, relationship between disease (Herpes Zoster) severity and CD4 count. Herpes Zoster infection was diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, anamnesis and by detection of VZV specific IgM and IgG by ELISA. HIV infection was diagnosed by ELISA method and was confirmed by Western Blot. CD4 count was detected by immunophenotyping technique and was analyzed using a FACSCalibur flow cytometer. The total prevalence of HIV infection among high risk behavior group persons with Herpes Zoster infection was 18,9% (31 HIV cases out of 164). The disease (Herpes Zoster) severity and duration was associated with decreased rate of cellular immunity, CD4 count. Herpes Zoster has a positive predictive value for HIV infection, predominantly recurrent Herpes Zoster. Herpes Zoster should be recognized as a marker condition indicating the necessity of screening for HIV, especially in Georgia, the region where the problem of IDU exists.

HIV Infections↗
PubMed2003

HIV/STI associated risk behaviors among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender college students in the United States.

An Internet survey was conducted during the 2001-2002 academic year to examine the health risk behaviors, including HIV/STI associated behaviors, of self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) college students in the United States. A total of 450 LGBT college students completed the entire online survey. Most respondents attended a 4-year (96.9%), coeducational (98.6%), non-religiously affiliated (87.5%), public (68.6%) institution. Eighty-nine percent reported having sex with someone of the same sex and 45% had multiple (6 or more) sex partners during their lifetime. Most reported using a condom consistently during penile-vaginal (61%) and anal sex (63%). However, only 4% used a condom or other barrier consistently during oral sex and 28% used a condom or other barrier during their last sexual encounter. Injection drug use and needle-sharing behavior was low (2.1% and 1.1%, respectively). Comparisons with heterosexual college students' HIV/STI associated risk behaviors are included. Results may be useful for HIV/STI prevention programs targeting LGBT college students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Dating violence and associations with depression and risk behaviors: female students in Morelos, Mexico].

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of dating violence and its association with depression and various risk behaviors in a sample of female students from the state of Morelos. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a baseline cohort study of a sample of 13 293 students from 12 to 24 years of age who attended public schools in the state of Morelos during the 1998-1999 school year. The participants were selected from a random sample of 260 junior high schools, 92 high schools and one university. For the purpose of this analysis, a total of 4 587 female students who had a previous dating relationship were selected. To control for possible confounding variables, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: The total prevalence of dating violence in females who attended public schools in Morelos was 28%. The following variables were associated with dating violence: depression (OR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.61-2.28); tobacco smoking (OR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.06-1.60); alcohol abuse (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.51); poor academic performance (low grades) (OR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.03-1.52); a history of sexual relations (OR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.26-1.82). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study clearly indicate that women experience partner violence beginning with dating during adolescence. Health and education professionals need to establish intervention strategies to prevent or treat dating violence among female students. Such strategies should take into account the association between depression and violence, as well as other related risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Partner type and sexual risk behavior among HIV positive gay and bisexual men: social cognitive correlates.

This study used elements of social cognitive theory to examine the relationship between partner type and sexual risk behavior in a sample of HIV positive gay and bisexual men. Self-efficacy captures one's perceived ability to perform a behavior; outcome expectancies are estimations that a behavior will result in a given outcome. An examination of sexual risk behavior revealed that men with steady partners and men with anonymous partners had the most unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), while men with casual partners had the least. Men with anonymous partners had the lowest scores on self-efficacy and outcome expectancies for condom use, negotiation, and disclosure. Outcome expectancies for negotiation of safer sex were inversely related to UAI for men with steady partners. Self-efficacy for condom use and negotiation were inversely related to UAI for men with casual partners. These findings suggest the need to consider partner type in the development of sexual risk reduction interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Healthy lifestyle behaviors among older U.S. adults with and without disabilities, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2003.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the relationship between healthy behaviors and the prevalence of chronic diseases in older adults with disabilities. This study examines the prevalence of selected healthy lifestyle behaviors related to chronic diseases among adults aged 65 years and older with and without disabilities. METHODS: Data from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used to assess having a healthy weight and six behaviors: current cigarette smoking status, consumption of at least one alcoholic beverage daily, consumption of at least five fruits or vegetables daily, physical activity during the average week, influenza immunization in the past year, and lifetime pneumococcal immunization. RESULTS: People with a disability were less likely than people without a disability to have a healthy weight (28.5% vs 37.2%) and to engage in the recommended level of weekly physical activity (14.7% vs 26.2%). However, people with a disability were more likely than those without a disability to be nonsmokers (91.8% vs 89.9%), to consume up to one alcoholic beverage daily (95.1% vs 91.5%), to have received their influenza immunization in the past year (72.7% vs 69.0%), and to have received a lifetime pneumococcal immunization (72.1% vs 63.0%). There was no difference between people with and without a disability in the prevalence rates of consuming at least five fruits or vegetables daily. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of having a healthy weight and six chronic-disease related behaviors among adults aged 65 years and older varies by disability status and by specific modifiable lifestyle behavior. Screening older adults with and without disabilities and counseling them about health behaviors should be integrated into every interaction between older adults and their health care providers to potentially lower the rates of morbidity and mortality related to chronic diseases in the later years.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, other risk behaviors, and American youth.

Increases in adolescent marijuana and other drug use have created widespread concern. One theory argues that increased use of cigarettes and alcohol among younger adolescents leads to greater use of marijuana which, in turn, leads to subsequent use of other drugs (e.g. cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens). Detractors of this theory claim that use of these substances is a symptom of a larger set of destructive behaviors (e.g. violence, suicide, promiscuous sex), and marijuana has no independent effect on the use of other more serious drugs. The authors examined whether, for high school seniors, early use of cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana has an independent effect on more serious drug use even when other behaviors are considered. Using the 1995 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 2871) and logistic analysis, after accounting for selected other behaviors, seniors using cigarettes before age 13 were 3.3 (95% C.I. 2.3,4.6) times likelier to have used marijuana than ones who never smoked; for alcohol, the odds ratio was 4.5 (2.6,7.7). Seniors using marijuana before the age of 14 were 7.4 times (4.0,13.6) likelier to have used other drugs. Though no causal effect is demonstrated, cigarette and alcohol use was associated with the likelihood of marijuana use; marijuana use was associated with the likelihood of other drug use, even after selected other risk and protective behaviors were considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Sexual risk behaviors among substance users: relationship to impulsivity.

Recent research has suggested that trait impulsivity may predict sexual risk behavior. Few studies have examined this association directly in substance users at risk for HIV transmission. Participants were 330 primarily heroin and/or cocaine users who underwent a structured interview regarding their drug use, sexual behaviors, and impulsivity. Results from an iteratively reweighted least squares regression analysis indicate that impulsivity remained a statistically significant predictor of sexual risk after adjusting for the effects of demographic variables and substance use frequency (b=.179, p < .01). Frequency of cocaine use (b=.186, p < .01) was also significantly associated with sexual risk. These findings suggest that trait impulsivity may be an independent risk factor for sexual risk behavior among substance users, thus identifying potential targets for future interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Sexual risk behavior of married men and women in Bangladesh associated with husbands' work migration and living apart.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of sexual risk behavior among married men and women who had, or had not, lived apart from their spouse as a result of the husbands' work migration. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a random sample of 1,175 married women and 703 married men in 2 rural areas of Bangladesh. RESULTS: Extramarital sex was reported by 64.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 58.7-69.7) of 296 men and 8.6% (95% CI = 7.6-9.6) of 779 women who had lived apart from their spouse, 2 to 3 times higher than the proportions among those who had not lived apart (P <0.05). The proportions of men who reported sex with a female sex worker (50.7%; 95% CI = 45.0-56.4) or with another male (5.4%; 95% CI = 2.8-8.0), while living away, were double the proportions reporting they had done so before living away or among men who had not lived away (P <0.05). Only 2 men had ever used had a condom during sex with another male, and less than one third of men had used a condom during sex with a sex worker or during marital sex. CONCLUSIONS: The sexual risk behavior of married men living away from home may put themselves and their wives at risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Adolescent↗