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PubMed2003

Sexual knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors of students in Turkey.

This survey produced baseline information about student knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), their sexual attitudes, and their behavior to help establish control and education programs. The study was conducted at Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, during the 1999-2000 academic year. A total of 2,217 first- and fourth-year students determined by stratified sampling constituted the study group. All students who volunteered to participate completed a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and knowledge factors, sexual attitudes, behavior, and history of STDs. The rate of students having had sexual experience was 36.6%. Males were more sexually active than females. Most students (71.4%) began sexual activity at ages 15-19 without any difference by gender. Males reported significantly more sexual partners than females. Similarly, the rate of male students never using condoms was significantly higher than females. Condom was the most frequent contraception method, followed by oral contraceptives and withdrawal. Mean score on the knowledge questions was 16.29 (highest score 30). The most widely known STD was HIV infection and AIDS. Students' knowledge of transmission routes, signs and symptoms, and risk groups of STDs was insufficient. Main sources of knowledge were visual and print media, and friends. Most students (84.7%) viewed prevention from STDs as a person's own responsibility. Young people in Turkey are sexually active and tend to engage in high-risk behavior. However, their knowledge on sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases is insufficient. Study results suggest a need for implementation of STD control programs and provision of school sexuality education for adolescents and young adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Higher-risk behavioral practices associated with bacterial vaginosis compared with vaginal candidiasis.

OBJECTIVE: Bacterial vaginosis has been associated with hormonal factors and sexual practices; however, the cause is unclear, and the notion that bacterial vaginosis is a sexually transmitted infection is still debated. To investigate whether bacterial vaginosis is associated with specific sexual practices or instead has features in common with a sexually transmitted infection, we compared behavioral associations in women with bacterial vaginosis to women with vaginal candidiasis. METHODS: Women with symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge or odor who attended Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between July 2003 and August 2004 were eligible for enrollment in the study. Information on demographics and behavioral and contraceptive practices were collected by self-completed questionnaire. Participants were tested for bacterial vaginosis, Candida spp (microscopy and culture), and sexually transmitted infections. Statistical comparisons were made between women with and without bacterial vaginosis and women with and without candidiasis, using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 342 women were enrolled in the study; 157 were diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, 51 had candidiasis by microscopy, and 95 had candidiasis by culture. Bacterial vaginosis was associated with indicators of high-risk sexual behavior such as a new sexual partner and greater number of male partners in the last year, increased number of lifetime sexual partners, less than 13 years of education, a past history of pregnancy, and smoking (P < .05). Candidiasis was not associated with these risk behaviors and was instead related to practices such as receptive anal and oral sex and douching. CONCLUSION: The association between bacterial vaginosis and practices that are associated with sexually transmitted infections, in contrast to those observed with candidiasis, suggests a possible sexually transmitted cause. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gender-specific profiles of self-reported adolescent HIV risk behaviors.

The purposes of this study were to (a) identify behaviors that put adolescents at risk for HIV infection by retrospectively comparing a cohort of HIV positive and negative young adults and (b) determine gender-specific high-risk profiles. HIV-positive (n = 61) and HIV-negative (n = 124) individuals from two midwestern cities completed a survey tool prepared by the investigators examining six areas of behavior and activity identified in the literature as high risk. Alcohol use, drug use, and gang-related behaviors were not associated with HIV status in these young adults. Early, frequent, and unprotected sex with large numbers of partners were the predictive risk factors for HIV-seropositive status. Gender profiles, however, differed. Whereas the female profile suggested that early and unprotected sex were the only reliable predictors, HIV-positive male subjects had larger numbers of partners, engaged in more risky sexual behaviors, were more likely to have experienced sexual abuse before and during adolescence, and were more likely to have used cocaine during their adolescence. Conclusions include the confirmation of a resurgence of HIV among young males having sex with males and confirmation of females as the largest growing group of HIV-positive young adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The prevalence of additional injection-related HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users.

SUMMARY: This study assesses the prevalence of injection-related behaviors that may facilitate HIV transmission even when syringes are not directly shared. Subjects who self-reported practicing these "indirect sharing" behaviors are described, the prevalence of these behaviors are compared with the direct sharing of syringes, and variables independently associated with indirect sharing are determined. Injection-related risks were assessed among 585 injection drug users (IDUs) in Denver, Colorado. Respondents were classified into three groups based on their self-reported injection behaviors: IDUs who directly and indirectly share syringes, IDUs who indirectly share only, and IDUs who neither directly or indirectly share. Indirect sharing was twice as prevalent as direct sharing. IDUs who injected heroin or speedballs were less safe in their injection behavior than those who did not. Drug treatment did not protect against injection-related risk behaviors; however, exposure to community HIV prevention efforts was protective. Indirect sharing behaviors are common, yet their link to HIV transmission remains unrecognized by many IDUs. IDUs must be informed about these additional risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Optimal scaling of HIV-related sexual risk behaviors in ethnically diverse homosexually active men.

As HIV-related behavioral research moves increasingly in the direction of seeking to determine predictors of high-risk sexual behavior, more efficient methods of specifying patterns are needed. Two statistical techniques, homogeneity analysis and latent class analysis, useful in scaling binary multivariate data profiles are presented. Both were used to analyze reported sexual behavior patterns in two samples of homosexually active men, one sample of 343 primarily White gay men attending an HIV workshop and one sample of 837 African American gay men recruited nationally. Results support the existence of a single, nonlinear, latent dimension underlying male homosexual behaviors consistent with HIV-related risk taking. Both statistical methods provide an efficient means to optimally scale sexual behavior patterns, a critical outcome variable in HIV-related research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Characteristics and predictors of HIV risk behaviors among injection-drug-using men and women in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors and drug-using behaviors in a large community sample of male and female injection drug users (IDUs) in St. Petersburg, Russia. This investigation used a data collection plan that systematically recruited a drug user sample from venues where IDUs were known to congregate and could be accessed. Surveys were completed by 239 IDUs (males = 139, females = 100), aged 13-25. Participants averaged 44 injections (range = 0-240) in the past 30 days, with heroin (70%) and heroin plus other drugs (20%) the most frequently used. Participants' mean age of first drug injecting was 17.6 years, 41% of participants regularly shared needles, most had multiple sexual partners (mean = 9.3 partners in the past 3 months), and 70% reported engaging in vaginal intercourse without condoms. Stepwise logistic regression showed that high-risk sexual behavior was predicted by being female, young, using heroin several times a month, and less negative attitudes toward using condoms. Effective HIV prevention efforts for IDUs in Russia must be tailored to their age, gender, drug use, and condom attitudes. These programs will also have to address the dual risk factors, unique to IDUs, of risky sexual behaviors and needle sharing. Without a rapid intervention response, Russia's HIV/AIDS crisis will soon turn catastrophic.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sensitive topics and adolescents: making research about risk behaviors happen.

This article discusses conducting research with adolescents as a positive experience, both from a clinical and scholarly perspective. However, topics involving risk-taking behaviors may be especially difficult for adolescents to discuss openly. To implement research protocols with the adolescent population, particularly when dealing with risk-taking behaviors, investigators need to be aware of developmental challenges that warrant specific methodological choices. In a pilot study that involved adolescents who had been hospitalized for traumatic injury, the researchers gained valuable experience in conducting a study on substance use. Experiences with the study provide direction for future research about investigating sensitive topics with adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Acquisition of high-risk behavior by African-American, Latino, and Caucasian middle-school students.

The purpose of this study was to measure the stages of acquisition of selected high-risk health behaviors in 768 randomly selected 7th- and 8th-graders in a Florida school district. Specific high-risk health behaviors included use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, fighting and weapon carrying, and suicide ideation. Analysis indicated few behaviors that were significantly different when African-American and Latino students were compared with Caucasian students. The most weapon carrying was reported by Latinos. Fewer Caucasian students than their minority peers used inhalants. Knowledge of stages of acquisition among small diverse samples may assist school personnel to intervene during the inculcation process with appropriate responsive programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the implementation of the FAPACAN programme to prevent cancer behavioral risk in primary care users in the North of Spain].

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the process is an essential condition to correctly measure the impact of educational interventions on behaviour, its psychosocial determinants and the state of change, in the context of health promotion. The aim was to evaluate the quality of the implementation of the FAPACAN Programme, designed to prevent behavioural risk of cancer in Primary Care, and to improve its psychosocial determinants in the A.S.E. Model and the state of change according to Prochaska and DiClemente Theory. METHODS: The quality of implementation was measured by means of a visit to the health centre, by filling in a checklist 'in situ', and a phone survey with the patient. Centralisation and association measures were found (Pearson and Spearman's coefficient). A multiple regression model was obtained with the score made by the patient (range of 0 to 8) and the covariables: gender, age, level of education, locality and family history of cancer. RESULTS: The quality scores obtained oscillate between 72% and 81% of optimum quality. Significant differences were found owing to the administrator (better with fewer years of exercise) and the patient (better with higher level of study). CONCLUSIONS: In general, the quality of implementation was more than sufficient, in spite of the poor provision by the health system.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1990

AIDS risk behavior patterns among gay men in small southern cities.

Men entering gay bars in three small southern cities were administered questionnaires to assess AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) risk knowledge, perceived norms concerning the social acceptability of AIDS risk precautions, and personal sexual behavior. Seventy-seven percent (N = 355) of male patrons completed the measures. While risk knowledge levels were high, respondents did not perceive strong norms favoring risk reduction precautions. Rates of risk behavior were considerably higher than those reported for gay men in large urban epicenters.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

HIV instruction and selected HIV-risk behaviors among high school students--United States, 1989-1991.

Efforts to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States must be targeted toward persons of all age groups at risk, including adolescents. Many high school students have reported engaging in behaviors that increase their risk for HIV infection (1,2). During April and May of 1989, 1990, and 1991, CDC conducted three national school-based surveys among high school students that addressed, in part, HIV-risk behavior and school-based instruction. This report summarizes findings from these surveys.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Needle-sharing among young IV drug users and their social network members: The influence of the injection partner's characteristics on HIV risk behavior.

Injection drug use is a risk factor for HIV among adolescents and young adults, yet the interpersonal dynamics of needle-sharing among young injectors remain poorly understood. Research has focused on identifying the characteristics of individual IV drug users (IVDUs) that increase their risk of needle-sharing. Most studies have not taken into consideration IVDUs' decisions to share needles with certain partners but not with other partners. This study examined partner characteristics associated with needle-sharing among 96 male and 77 female young adult IV drug users who had shared needles previously. Men were most likely to share needles with partners who gave them emotional support, partners who they injected or who injected them, and partners with whom they had had sex. Women were most likely to share needles with partners who they injected or who injected them, partners with whom they had discussed HIV risk, and partners with whom they had had sex. Results indicate that needle-sharing occurs within the context of mutual injection rituals and close emotional and sexual relationships. Public health interventions are needed to help young IVDUs to avoid needle-sharing with intimate partners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Injury related risk behavior--a study of Australian skydivers.

Risk taking behaviour has been identified as an important host-related determinant of injury in young adults. The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between the two key elements of risk taking behaviour--ie, risk assessment and risk acceptance--in participants of a high risk sporting activity. Skydivers registered with the Australian Parachute Federation were sampled at several jump meetings held at three 'drop-zones' in North Eastern Australia. A cross sectional survey of 215 skydivers ascertained each subject's risk assessment of each of nine hypothetical sky diving scenes and whether or not they would jump in the described conditions. Variables which independently predicted an individual's risk assessment were age group (p < 0.05). gender (p < 0.05) and scene details (p < 0.001). Risk assessment was found to be a statistically significant predictor of the decision to jump, with a 22% decrease in the odds of jumping with every unit increase in risk assessment (OR = 0.78: 95% CI: 0.76, 0.80). Gender was also found to be a statistically significant predictor of the decision to jump, with males being 19% more likely to jump than females, after controlling for age, experience, currency and risk assessment (OR = 1. 19: 95% CI; 1.04, 1.38). The importance of these results is that, by quantifying the relationship between two key elements of risk taking behaviour and several important host factor determinants, they facilitate more informed discussion about the possible role of risk taking behaviour in the causation of injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Psychiatric and substance dependence comorbidities, sexually transmitted diseases, and risk behaviors among methamphetamine-dependent gay and bisexual men seeking outpatient drug abuse treatment.

This article describes psychiatric and substance dependence comorbidities, lifetime rates of infectious disease, and reported high-risk sexual behaviors for methamphetamine-dependent, gay and bisexual men at entry to outpatient drug abuse treatment in Los Angeles. Participants' self-reports of high-risk sexual and drug use behaviors and of history of infectious disease status were correlated with diagnostic information from 155 Structured Clinical Interviews for the DSM-IV (SCID). A total of 82 participants met criteria for lifetime depressive disorders; 44 participants met criteria for lifetime anxiety disorders. Compared to those without psychiatric diagnoses, significant differences were observed in lifetime prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among those who have generalized anxiety disorder (higher rates of genital gonorrhea), specific phobia and major depressive disorder (higher rates of oral gonorrhea), social phobia (higher rates of syphilis) and bipolar disorder, type I (higher rates of HIV). Differences in infectious disease prevalence did not correspond to significantly different rates of high-risk sexual behaviors. Findings indicate that gay and bisexual men seeking outpatient treatment for methamphetamine dependence are likely to experience psychiatric comorbidity and to have high rates of infectious disease, including HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea.

Amphetamine-Related Disorders↗
PubMed1992

Students' knowledge of AIDS and sexual risk behavior.

College students appear to be knowledgeable of the methods of transmission and risks of the AIDS virus. However, the reality of susceptibility to infection does not seem to have altered their conduct. In a study of 19 heterosexual college students, knowledge and intention do not appear to be good predictors of sexual behavior. Young people appear to continue high-risk sexual behavior even while knowledgeable of the risks of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

AIDS: risk behaviors and situations as perceived by adolescents in Gaborone, Botswana.

While AIDS continues to escalate in Botswana, no systematic investigation has been done of the contextual (behavioral and situational) variables important to the tailoring of AIDS educational prevention program for adolescents. A cross-sectional descriptive study identified the specific behaviors and situations placing adolescents at risk for AIDS as perceived by a convenience sample of 48 adolescents. Adolescents attended gender-specific focus groups and completed a demographic questionnaire. Content analysis revealed that gender and age could categorize the adolescents' perceptions of contextual variables. For younger adolescents AIDS-related behaviors involved sex and intravenous drug use; for older adolescents AIDS-related behaviors involved multiple sexual partners and sexual relationships between older men and adolescent girls. Though a consensus existed regarding the situational variables, gender and age influenced the situation that was most challenging to these adolescents. The data support that AIDS educational prevention programs must be tailored to the adolescents' gender and age.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗