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Seroepidemiological studies of Haemophilus ducreyi infection in Ethiopian women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To measure prevalence of anti-Haemophilus ducreyi antibodies in sera from Ethiopian female attendees, and to determine significant socioeconomic associations. STUDY DESIGN: A modified ELISA immunoassay was used to test sera of 1,831 Ethiopian women attending gynecological, obstetric, and family planning clinics in Addis Ababa. RESULTS: Overall seropositivity was 19.4%. Prevalence rates for seropositivity for antibodies to H. ducreyi were significantly associated with ethnic group and religion, older age (> or = 50 years: 28%), early age at first coitus (< 13 years: 28%) and first coitus before the menarche (25%), being divorced (27%) or a prostitute (24%), longer duration of marriage (> 20 years: 27%) and sexual life (> 20 years: 24%), number of lifetime sexual partners (2 to 5 partners: 27%) and self-reported history of both syphilis and gonorrhea (31%). Of these factors, the two most significant were first coitus before the menarche (P < 0.0001) and not being still married to the first husband/sexual partner (P < 0.001). Differences in seropositivity according to ethnic group and religion may be explained by the number of women within each group who had only one lifetime sexual partner. Women with serological evidence of exposure to another sexually transmitted disease (STD) had a greater risk of exposure to H. ducreyi. The odds ratio for H. ducreyi seropositivity in women with syphilis or gonorrhea was 3.6, for women with genital chlamydial infection, 2.3, and for those with HBV or HSV-2, 1.4 and 1.3 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the usefulness of the modified ELISA immunoassay for measuring exposure to H. ducreyi, and the usefulness of H. ducreyi as a marker for cumulative sexual exposure. Further studies on the association of HIV transmission and H. ducreyi in Ethiopia are now indicated.

Adolescent↗

Sexual behavior, communication, and chlamydial infections among college women.

The sexual practices, partner communication patterns, and prevalence of chlamydial infection were determined in a sample of college women. Specific inclusion criteria were used to screen 146 participants. The presence of a mucopurulent cervical discharge was the only criterion significantly associated with infection. Only 12% of the sample used condoms alone or in combination with another birth control method, and only 31% of the women discussed with their partner their own or their partner's sexual history. Thirty-eight percent of the sample reported a history of one to four episodes of a sexually transmitted disease, and 21% of the women stated they had had two or more sexual partners within the past 6 months. Health providers, counselors, and women themselves must address this health issue with more assertive behavior and communication skills.

Adolescent↗

Estimates of alcohol use and clinical treatment needs among homosexually active men and women in the U.S. population.

Concerns about dysfunctional alcohol use among lesbians and gay men are longstanding. The authors examined alcohol use patterns and treatment utilization among adults interviewed in the 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Sexually active respondents were classified into 2 groups: those with at least 1 same-gender sexual partner (n = 194) in the year prior to interview and those with only opposite-gender sexual partners (n = 9,714). The authors compared these 2 groups separately by gender. For men, normative alcohol use patterns or morbidity did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, homosexually active women reported using alcohol more frequently and in greater amounts and experienced greater alcohol-related morbidity than exclusively heterosexually active women. Findings suggest higher risk for alcohol-related problems among lesbians as compared with other women, perhaps because of a more common pattern of moderate alcohol consumption.

Adolescent↗

Gonococcal infections in women attending the Venereal Disease Clinic of the Nashville Davidson County Metropolitan Health Department, 1984.

During the first six months of 1984, slightly more than a third (34.1%) of the 1,549 women who attended the Venereal Disease Clinic of the Nashville Davidson County Health Department in this study were found to be infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Infection prevalence was 36.7% for black women and 27.1% for white. The frequency of sexual intercourse and the number of sexual partners during the previous 30 days were similar for black and white patients. Fewer women were using contraceptives (67.8%) than in 1979 (87%). Exceptionally high rates of infection were found in women whose sexual partners had gonorrhea. Even with similar levels of sexual activity, black women faced greater risk of infection than white women, possibly because they were much more likely to be exposed to an infected man.

Adult↗

Knowledge of HIV and condom use among heterosexual patients at a Glasgow genito-urinary medicine clinic.

Knowledge of HIV and knowledge of, attitudes to and use of the condom were assessed by a survey of a sample of 778 heterosexual patients attending the genito-urinary medicine clinic at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The mean age was 27.4 years for men and 24.5 years for women. Over two-thirds of the men and about half of the women reported more than one sexual partner during the previous year. More than 70% reported having intercourse at least three times each week. Knowledge about HIV transmission and the condom was generally good. Over three quarters of the respondents approved of the use of the condom. However, only 27% male and 24% female respondents reported using the condom, with 11% and 8% respectively using it always. Condom use was associated with a positive attitude to the condom, having received information from the media about the condom, educational status, a belief that condoms prevented sexually transmitted diseases, and having had sex education in school. It was unrelated to age, marital status, the number of sexual partners or the frequency of sexual intercourse. The most common reported reason for not using the condom was use of another form of contraceptive.

Adult↗

Burning wood in the kitchen increases the risk of cervical neoplasia in HPV-infected women in Honduras.

There is suggestive evidence that the use of wood for cooking increases the risk of invasive cervical cancer. We investigated this association in women with cervical neoplasia in Honduras. Women aged 20-64 years with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I (n = 44), CIN II (n = 36) or CIN III (n = 45) were recruited from screening programs in Tegucigalpa City and each was matched by age and clinic to 2 controls (241 total) without cervical abnormalities. The clinics selected women of low socioeconomic status. Cervical scrapes were tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA using a general primer set directed against the L1 open reading frame, and HPV genotyping was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed through conditional logistic regression; p-values were from tests for linear trend of risk with increasing exposure. HPV DNA was detected in 48% of women with CIN I, 67% with CIN II and 89% with CIN III. The ORs were 1.5, 2.5 and 38.3 respectively. At univariate analysis, age at first intercourse was consistently lower among cases than controls. Risk was reduced by 50% or more in all 3 CIN classes when initiation of sexual activity at age 20 years or older was compared with initiation before age 16 years (p = 0.013 for CIN I). No effect was observed for smoking, oral contraceptives or previous cytologic screening. Effects for number of sexual partners, parity, age at first pregnancy and education were in the expected directions but never persisted after adjustment for HPV. Chronic exposure to wood smoke significantly increased the risk of CIN III (p = 0.022). However, women who said "No" when asked if they ever used wood in the kitchen had a higher risk than those with low or intermediate exposure. This was taken as evidence that the initial screening question had either been misunderstood or that answers were biased. Restricting the analysis to women who reported exposure yielded positive associations in all CIN classes with for CIN III ORs of 2.3 for 25-34 and 9.5 for 35+ years compared with women who had 1-14 years of exposure (p = 0.017). A multivariate analysis of the complete dataset (n = 366) allowed for separate ORs for HPV in each CIN class. Inclusion of age at first intercourse significantly improved this model (p = 0.021). Adding exposure to wood smoke further improved the model only if an interaction between woodsmoke and HPV was allowed for. If, as the data suggest, it was assumed that wood smoke had its effect among HPV-positives only, there was a significant linear dose-response relationship between exposure to woodsmoke and risk of CIN (p = 0.026). This association was independent of other risk factors including education, parity and number of sexual partners. ORs in the final model were 0.37 for age at first intercourse 20 years or higher and 5.69 for more than 35 years of exposure to wood burning in the kitchen. The present study suggests that the use of wood for cooking is a risk factor for cervical neoplasia that deserves further study, given its high prevalence in developing countries.

Adolescent↗

Determinants of high-risk sexual behavior among immigrant groups in Amsterdam: implications for interventions.

OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors for sexual risk behavior among immigrant men in Amsterdam. METHODS: From May 1997 to July 1998, 650 men from Surinam, the Antilles, and Ghana were recruited by convenience sampling. Multivariate logistic regression was used to find independent predictors for 1) multiple sex partners (>sexual 1 partner in the past year), 2) unprotected sex with casual partners in The Netherlands, 3) sexual activity in country of origin, and 4) unprotected sex in country of origin. RESULTS: 1) Multiple sex partners were reported by 50% of respondents. Independent predictors were a recent infection with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), youth, low educational level, Afro-Surinamese origin, lack of a long-term relationship and history of commercial sex contact. 2) Unprotected sex occurred in 24% of casual partnerships. Independent predictors were a recent STD infection, low educational level, use of hard drugs, age between 20 and 29, few sexual partners, unprotected sex in country of origin, and a partner from the respondent's ethnic group. 3) During the past 5 years, 24% were sexually active in country of origin. Independent predictors were Ghanaian origin, age over 20, a relatively high income, and multiple partners. 4) Unprotected sex occurred in 39% of the partnerships in country of origin. Independent predictors were low educational level, history of STDs, lack of health insurance, Ghanaian origin, frequent visits to home country, few sexual partners, and unprotected sex with casual partners in The Netherlands. CONCLUSION: Among immigrant men in Holland, important target groups for AIDS prevention programs have been identified. Men who visit their country of origin should be made aware of the risk of sexual contact with local women. Furthermore, it should be taken into account that immigrant men use condoms less frequently with women of their own ethnic group than with Dutch women.

Adolescent↗

Antiretroviral therapy and sexual behavior: a comparative study between antiretroviral- naive and -experienced patients at an urban HIV/AIDS care and research center in Kampala, Uganda.

We examined whether use of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy is associated with increased sexual risk behavior in a cross-sectional study of patients undergoing ARV therapy (ARV experienced) compared to patients not undergoing ARV therapy (ARV-naïve) attending an urban HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Sexual behavior during the prior 6 months and sexually transmitted disease (STD) treatment was determined by face-to-face structured interviews. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent correlates of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use, and STD treatment during the prior 6 months. Three hundred forty-seven (48%) of the 723 respondents reported a history of sexual intercourse in the 6 months prior to the interview (sexually active). Receipt of ARV therapy was not associated with a significantly higher likelihood of being sexually active (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.0 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-9.9). Among both ARV-experienced and ARV-naïve persons who were sexually active, 35% (120) reported one or more casual sexual partners in addition to a main partner (no difference by ARV status). Consistent condom use with spouse, regular, casual, and commercial partners was reported by 57%, 65%, 85%, and 85% of the sexually active respondents, respectively. The ARV-experienced respondents were more likely to report consistent condom use with their spouses than were ARV-naïve respondents (OR 2.82 95% CI 1.74-4.6). ARV-experienced respondents were more likely than ARV-naïve respondents to have disclosed their HIV status to their spouses (OR 1.57 95% CI 1.07-2.30).The ARV-experienced group was more likely to report STD treatment in the prior 6 months (AOR 2.62 95% CI 1.8-3.83) than the ARV-naïve group. The findings suggest that in this population, use of ARV therapy was not associated with risky sexual behavior in the prior 6 months. Still, recall and social desirability biases remain important limitations in interpreting these conclusions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Hepatitis B vaccination in adolescents: knowledge, perceived risk, and compliance.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate adolescents' and parents' knowledge of hepatitis B, perceived risk of hepatitis B, and compliance with a three-dose vaccine series. METHODS: Two hundred adolescents were recruited into the study. Participants completed a questionnaire that examined hepatitis knowledge, sexual activity, contraceptive use, and perceived risk of acquiring hepatitis B infection at enrollment and the final 8-month follow-up visit. They also had blood drawn for determination of hepatitis B serology at these visits. Their parents completed a questionnaire at enrollment. RESULTS: A total of 174 (87%) participants completed the study. Adolescents initially had very little knowledge about hepatitis but did have significant improvement in their knowledge scores at the 8-month follow-up. Their parents were more knowledgable. Most teens perceived their risk of acquiring the hepatitis B infection as slight or none. Their perceptions of their risk of acquiring hepatitis B were not associated with sexual activity, contraceptive choices, or number of sexual partners. In contrast, the parents' perceptions of their teens' risk of acquiring hepatitis B were associated with the teens' sexual activity, contraceptive choices, and number of sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: The adolescents studied had little knowledge about hepatitis or their personal risk. In contrast, the adolescents' parents were more knowledgable about hepatitis. The more informed the parent, the less sexual risk-taking behaviors the adolescent reported.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors for pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix.

Studies on risk factors for pre-cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix have shown strong association with sexual practice. Women with multiple sexual partners and intercourse at early age are at high risk. A role of male partners in further enhancing the risk has been identified. All these support the hypothesis relating to a sexually transmissible aetiological agent. An extensive review of the literature on the risk factors for pre-cancerous lesions of cervix has been carried out. The risk factors were grouped into genital, sexual, chemical, dietary and life factors. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the major infectious aetiological agent associated with the development of pre-cancerous lesions of cervix. Other co-factors such as multiple sexual partners of the male as well as the female and early age of first intercourse are also involved at the critical aetiological step of progression from low-grade to high-grade lesions. The role of other infectious agents in terms of supportive or interactive effects is not clear. No independent effect for herpes simplex virus 2 on risk is observed. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, oral contraceptive usage, certain nutritional deficiencies and poor personal hygiene. However, it is not clear whether these factors operate independently from HPV. There is no consistency in the independent effect of these factors on the development of low- to high-grade lesions of cervix. There is a similarity in the patterns of risk between pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer. Monogamy, late commencement of sexual activity, personal hygiene and use of barrier contraceptive methods help towards primary prevention. In the long-term, primary prevention of cervical neoplasia through HPV immunization of population may be a possibility.

Coitus↗

Feasibility of a preventive HIV-1 vaccine cohort among persons attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Thailand.

Persons attending sexually transmitted disease clinics at three sites in Thailand were recruited to participate in a 1-year study of HIV-1 incidence. Between September 1995 and February 1996, 31% (371 of 1205) of eligible men and 24% (161 of 659) of eligible women agreed to participate. At enrollment, HIV-1 seropositivity was 3.8% among men and 2.5% among women. Follow-up of the 514 participants who were seronegative at baseline was 78% at the 12-month visit. During the study period, 53% of men reported 2 or more sexual partners, 31% reported sex with a commercial sex worker (CSW), and 33% with a casual partner. Of those visiting CSWs, 72% reported consistent condom use. Among women, 11% reported 2 or more sexual partners. Decreased HIV risk behaviors among men were observed during the study. Four incident infections occurred in men (1.4/100 person-years, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4-3.6) and none among women. Based on the observed HIV-1 incidence, HIV vaccine efficacy trials in such populations would have to be larger than previously planned or more selective of high risk subgroups for recruitment.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Interventions to reduce sexual risk for the human immunodeficiency virus in adolescents, 1985-2000: a research synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize studies that have tested the efficacy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sexual risk-reduction interventions in adolescents. DATA SOURCES: Reports were gathered from computerized databases, by contacting individual researchers, by searching conference proceedings and relevant journals, and by reviewing reference sections of obtained articles. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they investigated any educational, psychosocial, or behavioral intervention advocating sexual risk reduction for HIV prevention; used experimental designs (or other designs with adequate comparison groups); had behavioral-dependent measures relevant to sexual risk; sampled adolescents (age range, 11-18 years); and had sufficient information to calculate effect size (ES) estimates. Data from 44 studies and 56 interventions (N = 35 282 participants) that were available as of January 2, 2001, were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Study information was coded, and individual ESs were calculated in SD units (the difference between the intervention and comparison condition means, divided by the pooled SD), with ESs coded so that positive signs indicated greater risk reduction. DATA SYNTHESIS: Across the studies, reductions in sexual risk were greater for adolescents who received the HIV risk-reduction intervention compared with those in the comparison conditions for 5 dimensions: condom use negotiation skills (mean ES, 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.59), condom use skills (mean ES, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.09-0.51), communications with sexual partners (mean ES, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.19-0.36), condom use (mean ES, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.03-0.11), and sexual frequency (mean ES, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.02-0.09). Interventions achieved greater success with condom use (1) in noninstitutionalized populations, (2) when condoms were provided, (3) with more condom information and skills training, (4) when the comparison group received less HIV skills training, and (5) when the comparison group received more non-HIV-related sexual education. CONCLUSION: Intensive behavioral interventions reduced sexual HIV risk, especially because they increased skill acquisition, sexual communications, and condom use and decreased the onset of sexual intercourse or the number of sexual partners.

Adolescent↗

Hepatitis B virus transmission between heterosexuals.

To determine if heterosexual activity was a risk factor for acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we studied attendees at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and students at a large university. Responses to self-administered questionnaires were used to exclude persons with factors known to be related to the acquisition of HBV and to determine the number of recent (past four months) and lifetime sexual partners. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. For white heterosexuals in the STD group, the prevalence of HBV infection was 6% for those with fewer than five recent partners vs 21% for those with five or more partners, and 5% for those with fewer than 50 lifetime partners vs 20% for those with 50 or more partners. For black heterosexuals in the STD group, no association was found between prevalence of HBV infection and number of recent or lifetime sexual partners. For the heterosexual student group (all white), the prevalence of HBV infection was 1.5% for fewer than three recent partners vs 14% for three or more partners, and 2% for fewer than ten lifetime partners vs 7% for ten or more partners. For white heterosexuals, the risk of acquiring HBV infection increases with increasing amounts of sexual activity and may reach a level similar to that of other groups previously recognized to be at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B.

Adult↗

[Characteristics of adolescent and adult young women diagnosed with human papilloma virus infection at the Center for Research on Human Reproduction (CIRH)].

We reviewed 239 charts of adolescents and young adults, who visited our clinic. The purpose was to know the incidence of the Human Papiloma Virus infection (HPVI), diagnosed by Pap's smears, and the relationship to a population with some gynecological and sociodemographic characteristics. The women age population was between 14-24 years old with a mean age of 19.9 years. Seventy (29.3%) were PIV positive and 169 (70.7%) negatives. About 75% among both groups (PIV + and -) began active sexual life between 15-19 years old. Among the women with 4 or more sexual partners, 55.6% were HPVI positive. About 60% of all women had never used any method before being admitted to the clinic. In this study there is no correlation between IVSA and HPVI. We do demonstrate that the greater the number of sexual partners, the highest the risk of a sexual acquired disease.

Adolescent↗

Finding help for sexual problems after prostate cancer treatment: a phone survey of men's and women's perspectives.

As part of a larger postal survey, 320 survivors of prostate cancer who reported they were likely to seek help in the next year for a sexual problem were interviewed by phone about their strategies for finding help and the types of treatment that would help resolve post-cancer sexual problems. In addition, 164 sexual partners (including 160 wives, three female partners in committed relationships, and one gay male partner) were interviewed. Educational materials were used by patients and partners to answer questions about sexual dysfunction but were less useful in helping to find professional referrals or in actually resolving sexual problems, particularly for African-American couples. Men's preferred method of finding help was to consult a urologist or prostate cancer specialist to find a medical treatment for erectile dysfunction. Ninety-one percent of men had already tried to find medical help for erectile dysfunction, but previous attempts remained unsuccessful. Men wanted an oral medication that would resolve their sexual problem naturally, without major side effects. Only 43% of men said their partners had encouraged them to find help, and indeed a large minority of women had resigned themselves to having unsatisfying sex lives. These data suggest that including the partner in counseling about medical treatments for sexual function, and giving both men and partners realistic expectations about the limitations of existing treatments could boost the success of sexual rehabilitation after prostate cancer.

Aged↗

Human immunodeficiency virus infection among patients attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases.

To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in patients attending inner-city clinics for sexually transmitted diseases in Baltimore, we screened 4028 patients anonymously, of whom 209 (5.2 percent) were seropositive for HIV. HIV-seropositivity rates were higher among men (6.3 percent) than women (3.0 percent) (P less than 0.001) and among blacks (5.0 percent) than whites (1.2 percent) (P less than 0.02). Among men, but not women, HIV seroprevalence increased markedly and steadily up to the age of 40. In men, HIV seropositivity was independently associated with increased age, black race, a history of homosexual contact, and the use of parenteral drugs. In women, a history of parenteral drug use or of being a sexual partner of a bisexual man or parenteral drug user were independently predictive of HIV seropositivity. In men, HIV seropositivity was also associated with a history of syphilis or a reactive serologic test for syphilis, and in women, with a history of genital warts. Since these associations were independent of the type and number of reported sexual partners, they raise the possibility that sexually transmitted diseases that disrupt epithelial surfaces may be important in the transmissibility of HIV. In addition, on a self-administered questionnaire, one third of HIV-infected men and one half of infected women did not acknowledge previous high-risk behavior for HIV exposure. These data suggest that patients at clinics for sexually transmitted diseases represent a group at high risk for HIV infection, and that screening, counseling, and intensive education should be offered to all patients attending such clinics.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Under the influence: risky sexual behavior and substance abuse among driving under the influence offenders.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between alcohol and drug abuse and risky sexual practice in a sample of 366 driving under the influence (DUI) offenders. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected from a sample of participants at a university-operated drunk driving intervention program. Specific indicators included established or severe alcohol/drug use problems, multiple drugs used, multiple alcohol/drug related arrests, and early regular alcohol use. Multiple sexual partners, condom use, and having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs were used to measure risky sexual behavior patterns. Correlation and logistic regression analyses examined associations between these substance abuse and sexual risk taking measures. RESULTS: Substance abuse in general was unrelated to risky sexual behavior such as multiple sexual partners or lack of condom use. However, having sex while high from alcohol or drugs was significantly associated with substance abuse. Moreover, having sex while high was significantly related to both risky sex and a history of sexually transmitted disease. CONCLUSIONS: Having sex while high may be an important behavior to address to prevent STDs in the DUI population. Assessing relationships between substance abuse and risky sexual behavior poses a challenge to researchers because any estimates about this association may be dependent on the measure of sexual behavior that is used. An integrated intervention approach that addresses both substance abuse prevention and safe sexual practice appears crucial and effective for educating "risk takers" such as DUI offenders. However, these data caution that for those who are dependent upon alcohol and/or other drugs, education solely emphasizing risk reduction procedures is likely to be inefficient until their chemical dependency is addressed.

Adult↗

Do street youths' perceptions of their caregivers predict HIV-risk behavior?

This study examined street youths' perceptions of their caregivers and the association between these perceptions and HIV-risk behavior in a random probability sample of 715 12- to 23-year-old street youths from Los Angeles and San Diego, CA (mean age, 18.7 years). All participants had been homeless at some point during the past 12 months, with 70% recruited from nonshelter sites. Although youths reported high rates of hostility, unavailability, substance use, and legal problems among their caregivers, 86% reported that their caregivers had at least one attribute associated with support. Caregiver problems were associated with youth having had more sexual partners in the past 30 days and having higher risk drug use. High caregiver support was associated with more sexual partners and lower use of condoms with steady partners. Caregiver attributes did not predict condom use with transient partners.

Adolescent↗