Suchergebnisse

Female intravenous drug users are among the fastest growing segments of the population infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. This article, based on interviews with 91 African-American and Latina women in methadone clinics, describes respondents' drug use, sexual risk taking, and attitudes toward condom use and negotiation of safer sex; and examines relationships between sexual risk taking and demographic characteristics, length of time in treatment, current drug use, and attitudes toward negotiating safer sex and condoms. Forty-two percent of the sample reported that they had changed their sexual practices to reduce their risk of AIDS. Recovering IV drug users in long-term monogamous relationships tended to use condoms less frequently during sexual intercourse than those in casual relationships. Various drugs were differentially related to high-risk sexual activity. Frequent drug injectors admitted to having more sexual partners and to having sex more frequently, and used condoms with less frequently than women who used IV drugs less often. Attitudes toward negotiating safer sex and frequency of condom use varied by ethnicity. In addition, use of condoms appeared to be related more to attitudes toward negotiating safer sex and the degree of comfort with social skills in communicating with sexual partners than to perceptions about the properties of condoms. Findings have implications for developing interventions to reduce AIDS risks.

Purpose. To examine the application of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. Methods. Scales for measuring decisional balance, situational self-efficacy, and processes of change for fruit and vegetable consumption were developed and pretested with 57 economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. The scales and measures for assessing stages of change, demographic variables, and fruit and vegetable consumption were administered to a separate sample of 262 participants. t-tests for independent samples and analysis of variance were used to examine differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption across stages of change. Results. Two-factor solutions for decisional balance and processes of change and a three-factor solution for situational self-efficacy provided the best fit to the data. Alpha coefficients of reliability for the scales ranged from .77 (experiential change processes) to .91 (pros). Participants in action-maintenance stages evidenced higher pros, self-efficacy, and fruit and vegetable consumption and significantly lower cons than did participants in precontemplation and contemplation-preparation stages. Also, participants in action-maintenance stages used processes of change more frequently than did those in precontemplation-contemplation-preparation stages. The use of experiential and behavioral processes within these stages did not differ significantly, as posited. Discussion. Observed differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption by stage of change in this sample of economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents were consistent with theory and previous applications of the model to fruit and vegetable consumption in adults. With replication studies, the TTM may be appropriate for designing interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among this population.

American adolescents are at high risk for infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—the virus that causes AIDS—and for the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Given the seriousness of these health problems, interventions for preventing HIV and other STD infections among adolescents are needed. Although behavioral science theories offer promise, effective interventions for preventing HIV and other STD infections have not been developed. To fill gaps in scientific knowledge and foster the development of preventive interventions, new strategies are needed to reach, attract, and intervene with adolescents. Such strategies must be sensitive to the differences between adult and adolescent populations, target adolescents in school settings, and involve youths' families and communities. We address the need for such multicomponent, school-based interventions to prevent HIV and other STD infections. Drawing from our own and others' work, we review theory and empirical knowledge to support preventive interventions for youth at risk for HIV and other STD infections. We then detail a school-based intervention that is being empirically tested to determine its effectiveness in preventing HIV and other STD infections among students.