Suchergebnisse

Background:African American (AA) teens endure disproportionately high rates of adolescent dating abuse (ADA). There is a limited understanding of the community–specific pathways that contribute to AA youth's higher risk. The purpose of this study is to investigate AA youths' perspectives on the antecedents of ADA.Methods:Data were collected from interviews ( n = 38) with AA teens. Thematic content analysis was employed to identify primary themes across the interviews. Analysis involved multiple rounds of iterative coding and the clustering of thematic constructs.Results:Interview participants described individual–level and intergenerational explanations of ADA. The majority of participants could not identify community–level factors.Discussion and Implications:Dating abuse perpetration and victimization were positioned as the product of personal deficits and exposure to abuse in individuals' family environments. These findings underscore how structural and systemic determinants of dating abuse have not been translated to youth's meaning–making processes regarding abuse. Implications for diversifying the public discourse on dating abuse will be discussed, and consciousness–raising on the influence of upstream determinants of abuse will be presented.

CONTEXT: Although an association between gender equality and contraceptive use has been confirmed among adult samples, few studies have explored this relationship among adolescents. An examination of whether adolescents' contraceptive use is more prevalent in countries with higher levels of gender equality is needed to fill this gap. METHODS: Nationally representative data from 33 countries that participated in the 2013–2014 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study and country-level measures of gender equality—using the 2014 Global Gender Gap Index—were analyzed. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression analyses were employed to assess associations between gender equality and contraceptive use (condom only, pill only and dual methods) at last intercourse as reported by 4,071 females and 4,110 males aged 14–16. RESULTS: Increasing gender equality was positively associated with contraceptive use among both males and females. For every 0.1-point increase on the equality scale, the likelihood of condom use at last intercourse rose (odds ratio, 2.1 for females), as did the likelihood of pill use (6.5 and 9.6, respectively, for males and females) and dual method use (2.1 and 5.6, respectively). Associations with pill use and dual use remained significant after national wealth and income inequality were controlled for. Overall, associations were stronger for females than for males. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to identify potential causal pathways and mechanisms through which gender equality and adolescents' contraceptive use may influence one another. ; SCOPUS: ar.j ; info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Abstract

Aims
To characterize latent typologies of alcohol use among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) and test their relationship with physical and mental health status.


Methods
Baseline data from 365 adult in-care PLWH enrolled in the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV study were analyzed. Indicators of current and former heavy drinking, intoxication, withdrawal and dependence symptoms, alcohol-related problems and past contact with alcohol use treatment were drawn from validated scales. Physical and mental health measures included SF-36 subscales, medication non-adherence and anxiety, depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Latent class analysis was conducted to characterize alcohol drinking typologies. Logistic and ordinary least-squares regression were employed to test associations between alcohol use and health status.


Results
Four latent classes were identified: heavy drinkers (36%), former heavy drinkers (14%), heavy drinkers with problems (12%) and low-risk drinkers/abstainers (38%). Controlling for background characteristics, low-risk drinkers/abstainers showed significantly better health compared to heavy drinkers with problems across most domains. Although current and former heavy drinkers without alcohol-related problems were similar to heavy drinkers with problems in most health domains, they presented worse mental health and energy compared to low-risk drinkers/abstainers.


Conclusions
Heavy drinkers with alcohol-related problems evidenced the worst health status among PLWH, and should be considered for mental and physical health interventions. However, interventions to improve physical and mental health of PLWH should consider history of heavy alcohol use, as current alcohol use status alone may be insufficient for identifying groups at increased risk.