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The relation between self-esteem, sexual activity, and pregnancy.

This study examined self-esteem in relation to sexual behaviors which often result in teen pregnancy. A sample of 141 male and 172 female adolescents of racial diversity was surveyed to elicit levels of self-esteem, sexual activity, pregnancy and fatherhood status. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory was used as well to elicit qualitative data about self-esteem, demographics, and sexual activity. Analysis revealed no differences in the self-esteem of males vs. females. Further, sexual activity or virginity was not related to self-esteem in either males or females. Pregnant teens did not have different levels of self-esteem from the nonpregnant. However, males who had fathered a child had lower self-esteem than did nonfathers. The findings support a multifocused approach to sex education for pregnancy prevention and also emphasize a need to include males in both pregnancy prevention efforts as well as in further research on teen pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

Cognitive, psychosocial, and reported sexual behavior differences between pregnant and nonpregnant adolescents.

A wide variety of variables have been related to the occurrence of adolescent pregnancy. However, many previous studies have produced conflicting results and are univariate in nature. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in pregnant and nonpregnant adolescents on variables from three domains: cognitive, psychosocial, and reported sexual behavior. Sixty-nine pregnant adolescents and 58 comparison adolescents filled out nine questionnaires presented on microcomputers. Significant differences were found on 10 of 24 univariate tests. The strongest differences concerned areas of scholastic functioning and reported sexual behavior; pregnant teenagers were more likely than nonpregnant peers to be doing poorly in school and less likely to use contraceptives. In addition, pregnant teenagers were more likely to have a relative or friend who was an adolescent mother and to expect child rearing to be easier than did the nonpregnant adolescents. A discriminant analysis was computed which correctly classified 83% of the sample, based on variables from each of the three domains. This study has served to replicate, refute, and expand on previous findings concerning the antecedents of teenage pregnancy. More importantly, this study has empirically demonstrated the multivariate and interrelated nature of variables associated with teenage pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

Sex, contraception and childbearing among high-risk youth: do different factors influence males and females?

CONTEXT: The likelihood that adolescents will engage in sexual activity, use contraceptives or become parents is influenced by a range of attitudes and behaviors. These factors may differ for males and females. METHODS: Data on female respondents to the 1979-1992 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and the linked 1994 young adult data file on their children provided background information on 959 adolescents who had been born to young mothers. Partial correlation analysis was used to examine the factors related to sexual behavior, contraceptive use and childbirth, controlling for maternal and familial characteristics, in this relatively disadvantaged sample. RESULTS: Youth who are inclined toward risk-taking and those who have run away from home are more likely than others to be sexually active. For young women, having intercourse at an early age, not using contraceptives and having a child are linked with depression, low self-esteem and little sense of control over their lives. The results for young men are less consistent and often in the opposite direction. Young people who have become parents evidence greater maturity than their childless peers; women are less likely to consume alcohol or to spend time with friends who drink, and men are more likely to participate in socially productive work. CONCLUSIONS: Although sexual behavior is tied to risk-taking in both adolescent males and females, some noticeable psychological differences are evidenced early. Behaviorally, there is room for optimism, in that young parents appear to adopt more mature traits.

Adolescent↗

Teenage sex talk.

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Adolescent↗

[Prevention of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women].

Over the past several years, the incidence of chronic salpingitis has increased relentlessly, with its accompanying pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancies, and tubal sterility. Chlamydia are a frequent etiologic agent. Preventing these infections is difficult, nevertheless proper care will be given by recalling four key words: avoidance, diagnosis, education, and treatment. It is important to discourage early sexual activity and multiple sexual partners, to encourage the use of condoms, and avoid the use of an intrauterine device in adolescents. Atypical presentations of salpingitis must be recognized and treated effectively, thus preventing the spread of infection. Education on venereal diseases should be presented in secondary schools, during military service, and other similar groups, but especially during physician visits for contraception.

Adolescent↗

Reproductive performance in capture-acclimated female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Behavioral and physiological data were collected over a three-year period on a colony of compound-housed rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to examine endocrine influences on sexual behavior. The reproductive performance of the experimental animals was compared to controls which were not routinely handled. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to the percentage of conceptions or other parameters of reproductive biology. The demonstration that manipulations attendant to data collection did not jeopardize reproductive success has important implications for research on primate colonies which are maintained primarily for breeding purposes. Additionally, female copulatory behavior was found to be a reliable indicator of ovulation which allows for an accurate prediction of the parturition date.

Acclimatization↗

Investigating equine ingestive, maternal, and sexual behavior in the field and in the laboratory.

Some of the techniques that may be used to study social, reproductive, and ingestive behavior in horses are described in this paper. One of the aspects of equine social behavior is the dominance hierarchy or patterns of agonistic behavior. Paired or group feeding from a single food source may be used to determine dominance hierarchies quickly. Focal animal studies of undisturbed groups of horses may also be used; this method takes longer, but may reveal affiliative as well as agonistic relationships among the horses. Reproductive behavior includes flehmen, the functional significance of which can be determined using combinations of field observations of harem groups and laboratory studies of stallions exposed to female urine or feces in the absence of the donor mare. Ingestive behavior may include food, salt, or water intake. Direct and indirect measurements of intake can be made and used to answer questions regarding the ability of horses to control their energy intake when the diet is diluted, the effect of feral equids on the ecology of an area, and the abilities of horses to compensate for dehydration and hypovolemia.

Animals↗

Teenage obstetric and gynaecological problems in an African city.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cervical cancer, pregnancy and use of contraception in teenagers, and to determine socioeconomic factors associated with these conditions to aid planners of medical services and promotion of sexual health. SUBJECTS: 181 Ethiopian teenagers and 1,845 women aged 20 to 45 years for comparison. SETTING: Gynaecological outpatient department, antenatal, postnatal and family planning clinics, in two teaching hospitals and a mother and child heath centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: Results of serologic tests for STD, clinical evidence of PID, and cervical cytology were analysed against socio-economic factors. RESULTS: In teenagers early age at first marriage/coitus, more common in those of rural origin, was associated with poverty, a greater number of lifetime sexual partners, and prostitution: 40 pc were first sexually active before the menarche. Prevalence of seropositivity to specific STD pathogens was; Treponema pallidum (TPHA) 21 pc, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcal antibody test: GAT) 40 pc, genital chlamydiae 51 pc, hepatitis B virus 36 pc, herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) 32 pc, and Haemophilus ducreyi 16 pc: 92 pc of teenagers were seropositive to one or more STD's. STD seroprevalence was higher in those with more than one sexual partner, those sexually active by age 15 (very high in those sexually active by age 12), those involved in prostitution and those attending the family planning clinic. Forty three pc had clinical evidence of PID; one married at age 10 had invasive cervical cancer by age 18; 40 pc of teenagers were pregnant compared with 25 pc of those aged 20 to 45; 21 pc attended for family planning; of regular FPC attenders 81 pc were GAT seropositive. CONCLUSION: Despite legislation early age of sexual debut is common, STD and PID are widely prevalent, the pregnancy rate in adolescents is high and contributes to the national population growth rate. Action is required at family, medical and governmental level to encourage cultural acceptance that marriage and sexual activity should not occur before the age of 16 years, with education appropriate to culture to prevent STD. Similar studies are recommended in other countries to establish a baseline for informed strategy regarding prevention of STD and health education.

Adolescent↗

Neonatal neural organizing effects of exogenous corticosteroids on sexual differentiation of the brain in the female rat.

Testosterone, deoxycorticosterone, or vehicle was administered neonatally to female Long-Evans rats. Parameters expressing the reproductive physiology and behavior of the adult animals were studied. It was found that neonatal administration of testosterone produced the expected "defeminization" and "masculinization" of the brain, affecting both the reproductive behavior and cyclicity of these females. In contrast, neonatal administration of the adrenal steroid did not affect cyclicity although it "defeminized" and "masculinized" sexual behavior, albeit to a lesser degree than testosterone. The results suggest a dichotomy in the neuroregulation of reproductive physiology and sexual behavior.

Animals↗

Health-seeking behavior of Karachi women with reproductive tract infections.

To explore the contextual factors influencing health-seeking behavior of women in Karachi regarding reproductive tract infections, 18 women with reproductive tract infections from different clinics and community settings were identified and in-depth interviews were conducted. Physicians in our study diagnosed a woman to have lower reproductive tract infection if she complained of malodorous vaginal discharge with or without perineal itching; and to have pelvic inflammatory disease or upper reproductive tract infection if she had any two of the following complaints: malodorous vaginal discharge, menstrual irregularities, lower abdominal pain or dyspareunia. Women consulted a variety of healthcare providers in their pursuit for treatment, mainly allopathic doctors and hakims. The different treatments prescribed to women ranged from oral and intravaginal medications to various home remedies including refraining from specific foods. Causes of reproductive tract infections reported were "melting bones", consuming foods with perceived hot composition, poor personal hygiene and procedures like dilatation and curettage, delivery and induced abortions. None reported sexually transmitted diseases as the perceived cause of their problem. Interference with religious activities, sexual relationships or socializing was reported as consequences of reproductive tract infections, in addition to lower abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities, backache and kamzori (weakness). Pakistani women seek care for reproductive tract infections and visit a variety of providers, though causes and treatments offered are usually not related to sexually transmitted diseases. We therefore suggest training of healthcare providers for appropriate counseling and that treatment management protocols be advocated.

Adult↗

Adolescent sexuality.

Sex education is almost mandated in the United States. The data reviewing sexual activity in the adolescent population indicates that large numbers of women under the age of 19 who have unintended pregnancies are at risk for an increased frequency of sexually transmitted diseases which will affect their future. It is essential that good educational programs and preventive service programs be developed and mandated for the adolescent population. Experience in Western Europe demonstrates that the adolescent who has a proper education concerning sexual activity, sexually transmitted disease, and contraception is at lower risk for the many problems that we see in the United States. There must be cross-cultural data that can be translated for use in the entire world. As the population of this world ages, we must protect those who are entering adulthood from being exposed to the STDs and undertaking the responsibility of parenting without having reached full maturity. The cost in dollars of the sequelae of adolescent pregnancies are great. These costs are not only financial, but also emotional and social, and they have a negative impact on the country in which the adolescent lives. We have a heavy responsibility as physicians and health care professionals to see that the adolescents of the world are given the knowledge and models to use to reduce the risk for pregnancy and the acquisition of a sexually transmitted disease.

Adolescent↗

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in unmarried women seeking abortions.

Fifty consecutive unmarried women seeking termination of pregnancy in a state run general hospital in Singapore were screened for cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection before abortion. Chlamydial infection was diagnosed by taking a cervical swab, culturing the organism in tissue culture media, and identifying the inclusion bodies by dark ground fluorescent microscopy. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered in as many as 14% of cases. None of the patients gave any history suggestive of promiscuity. Compared with gonorrhoea in the non-prostitutes sexually active women of the population studied, the incidence of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis was found to be high. Patients with positive cultures often defaulted from follow up, thus posing a genuine risk of the spread of the disease by vertical and horizontal transmission.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗