Perceptions of Adolescents’ Sexual Behavior Among Mothers Living With and Without HIV: Does Dyadic Sex Communication Matter?

Previous studies suggest that mothers can help adolescents make responsible sexual decisions by talking with them about sexual health. Yet, it is not clear how and when mothers make decisions about talking with their adolescents about sex. We sought to determine: (1) the accuracy of mothers’ and adolescents’ predictions of adolescents’ age of sexual debut; and (2) if mothers’ beliefs about their adolescents’ sexual behavior affected the frequency of mother–adolescent communication about sexual topics and, in turn, if mother–adolescent communication about sexual topics affected mothers’ accuracy in predicting adolescents’ current and future sexual behavior. Participants were 129 urban, ethnic minority HIV-negative youth (52% male and 48% female; ages 10–14 years at baseline; ages 13–19 years at follow-up) and their mothers; 47% of mothers were HIV-positive. Most mothers and adolescents predicted poorly when adolescents would sexually debut. At baseline, mothers’ communication with their early adolescents about sexual topics was not significantly associated with mothers’ assessments of their early adolescents’ future sexual behavior. At follow-up, mothers were more likely to talk with their adolescents about HIV prevention and birth control if they believed that their adolescents had sexually debuted, though these effects were attenuated by baseline levels of communication. Only one effect was found for adolescents’ gender: mothers reported greater communication about sex with daughters. Studies are needed to determine how mothers make decisions about talking with their adolescents about sex, as well as to examine to what extent and in what instances mothers can reduce their adolescents’ sexual risk behavior by providing comprehensive, developmentally appropriate sex education well before adolescents are likely to debut.     

Sexual and Contraceptive Practices among Female Undergraduates in a Nigerian Tertiary Institution

Background

The reproductive health of adolescents and young women is integral to the wellbeing of a society. This study was carried out to determine current sexual practices and contraceptive usage among female undergraduate students in a Southwest Nigerian tertiary institution.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional questionnaire based survey of female university undergraduates. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic variables and sexual and contraceptive practices. Frequency tables were generated and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine factors that influenced sexual and contraceptive practices. SPSS software version 16.0 was used for analysis.

Results

Of 350 students sampled, 306 completed the questionnaire. One hundred and eighty six (60.8%) students were currently sexually active. The mean age of sexual debut was 19.11 years. Sixty-six (35.5%) had more than one sexual partners. Contraceptive knowledge was 100%, but consistent use was 34.4%. A third of the respondents had sex for material rewards and/or under the influence of alcohol and recreational drugs. Students who were less than 20 years old (Adjusted OR: 3.52; 95%CI=2.10–6.82) were more likely to be sexually active while those from polygamous/separated families (Adjusted OR: 0.32; 95% CI=0.18–0.58) were less likely to be sexually active.

Conclusion

There is a high level of sexual activity and low contraceptive use among female undergraduate students in Southwest Nigeria. More reproductive health education and promotion is necessary to safeguard their sexual health.     

University Students’ Definitions of Sexual Abstinence and Having Sex

We asked 298 heterosexual Canadian university students about their definitions of the terms abstinence and having sex. For both terms, students were provided with a list of 17 sexual behaviors and indicated whether they would include each in their definition. The majority of both male and female students included activities that did not involve genital stimulation in their definition of sexual abstinence and did not include these activities in their definition of having sex. Conversely, most students did not include bidirectional sexual stimulation (penile–vaginal intercourse or penile–anal intercourse) in their definitions of sexual abstinence but did include them in their definitions of having sex. Students were quite mixed in whether activities involving unidirectional genital stimulation (e.g., oral sex, genital fondling) constituted abstinence, having sex, or neither abstinence nor having sex. However, they were more likely to see these behaviors as abstinent than as having sex. Students were more likely to rate a behavior as abstinence if orgasm did not occur. A canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the patterns of association between a number of predictors and inclusions of behaviors involving no genital stimulation, unidirectional stimulation, and bidirectional genital stimulation in abstinence definitions. The results indicated that male participants who were more involved with their religion and sexually conservative, less sexually experienced, and who had not received sexual health education at home were more likely to define bidirectional genital stimulation and less likely to define no genital stimulation and unidirectional sexual stimulation as sexual abstinence. The research and health promotion implications of these results are discussed.     

Tolerance of Sexual Harassment: A Laboratory Paradigm

The present study attempted to develop a laboratory analogue for the study of tolerance for sexual harassment by using an online speed-dating paradigm. In that context, the relation between participants’ sexual harassment attitudes, perpetrator attractiveness, perpetrator status, and perceived dating potential of the perpetrator were examined as factors influencing participants’ tolerance of sexually harassing behavior. Participants were 128 female college students from a small northeastern public university. Results indicated that attractiveness, high social status, and attitudinal beliefs about sexual harassment were all predictive of tolerance for sexual harassment, providing preliminary support for the validity of this paradigm. In addition, participants’ self reported likelihood to date a bogus male dating candidate was also predictive of tolerance for sexual harassment, over and above the aforementioned variables, suggesting that dating potential can play a role in perceptions of sexual harassment. Further, this experiment demonstrated that perceptions of sexual harassment can be assessed using the in vivo measurement of behavior. In addition, using an online environment not only provides a contemporary spin and adds a greater degree of external validity compared to other sexual harassment analogues, it also reduces any risk of potential physical sexual contact for participants.     

Nova Scotia high school students' interactions with physicians for sexual health information and services

PURPOSE: To support a community effort to establish a health service in a Nova Scotia high school, adolescents' sexual behaviours and use of physicians for sexual health services were assessed. METHODS: A self-completion survey asked students about sexual behaviours, use of physician services and barriers to use of those services. RESULTS: Only 8.7% of male and 37.9% of female students with family physicians had discussed with the physician whether they were sexually experienced (p < 0.0001). More females had discussed sexual activity when the physician was female than when the physician was male (43.7% vs. 35.1%; p < 0.05). More sexually experienced females who had not discussed this behaviour with their physicians identified specific issues as barriers to discussion. CONCLUSIONS: Female physicians discuss sexual activity more with their adolescent female patients than do male physicians. The results support the need to provide health services in addition to those of physicians to meet the sexual health needs of adolescents.     

Cognitive Representations of Sexual Self Differ as a Function of Gender and Sexual Debut

This research evaluated the association between gender and sexual debut (initial sexual intercourse) and indirect measures of sexuality. A sample of 440 U.S. college students (pre-sexual debut: 144 women, 153 men; post-sexual debut: 49 women, 94 men) completed the Sexual Self-Schema Scale (SSSS), which assessed cognitive representations about sexual aspects of oneself, and three Implicit Association Tests (IAT), which measured the strength of the associations between the concepts of self + sex, women + sex, and men + sex. Results replicated previous findings that (1) men more strongly associated self + sex and women + sex than did women, and (2) men and women had similarly strong associations of men + sex. Post-sexual debut women’s self + sexual and women + sexual associations were stronger than pre-sexual debut women’s. Men’s associations did not differ significantly as a function of sexual debut. Post-sexual debut women’s SSSS scores were more direct, more romantic, and less conservative than pre-sexual debut women’s. Post-sexual debut men’s SSSS scores were more aggressive and more open-minded than pre-sexual debut men’s. Sexual debut appeared to be associated with sexualized and sexually liberal cognitive representations in women and, to a lesser extent, sexually liberal and aggressive cognitive representations in men. Findings were consistent with theories of cognitive consistency and provide preliminary evidence that sexual debut status was associated with differing cognitive representations.     

Sexual Health and Well-being Among Older Men and Women in England: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

We describe levels of sexual activity, problems with sexual functioning, and concerns about sexual health among older adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and associations with age, health, and partnership factors. Specifically, a total of 6,201 core ELSA participants (56 % women) aged 50 to >90 completed a comprehensive Sexual Relationships and Activities questionnaire (SRA-Q) included in ELSA Wave 6 (2012/13). The prevalence of reporting any sexual activity in the last year declined with age, with women less likely than men at all ages to report being sexually active. Poorer health was associated with lower levels of sexual activity and a higher prevalence of problems with sexual functioning, particularly among men. Difficulties most frequently reported by sexually active women related to becoming sexually aroused (32 %) and achieving orgasm (27 %), while for men it was erectile function (39 %). Sexual health concerns most commonly reported by women related to their level of sexual desire (11 %) and frequency of sexual activities (8 %). Among men it was level of sexual desire (15 %) and erectile difficulties (14 %). While the likelihood of reporting sexual health concerns tended to decrease with age in women, the opposite was seen in men. Poor sexual functioning and disagreements with a partner about initiating and/or feeling obligated to have sex were associated with greater concerns about and dissatisfaction with overall sex life. Levels of sexual activity decline with increasing age, although a sizable minority of men and women remain sexually active until the eighth and ninth decades of life. Problems with sexual functioning were relatively common, but overall levels of sexual health concerns were much lower. Sexually active men reported higher levels of concern with their sexual health and sexual dissatisfaction than women at all ages. Older peoples’ sexual health should be managed, not just in the context of their age, gender, and general health, but also within their existing sexual relationship.     

Withdrawal (Coitus Interruptus) as a Sexual Risk Reduction Strategy: Perspectives from African-American Adolescents

This study examined adolescents’ beliefs about the benefits and risks of withdrawal (coitus interruptus) with respect to both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In the course of qualitative interviews with African-American youth aged 14–19 (n = 124) about sexuality and risk, 24 adolescents spontaneously introduced the subject of withdrawal as a sexual risk reduction strategy. Eighteen percent of the sexually experienced adolescents mentioned their own use of withdrawal as a contraceptive method. From adolescents’ accounts of their own and their peers’ use of withdrawal, we learned that the cultural meanings of withdrawal within the context of adolescent relationships were multifaceted. Using withdrawal could signal sexual prowess in male youth, was seen as promoting trust and caring within a stable relationship, and was seen as mitigating the risk of pregnancy. However, adolescents also recognized that withdrawal did not protect against most STIs. Beliefs about withdrawal as a gendered skill and as a sign of trust may undermine some adolescents’ attempts to negotiate condom use for protection against STIs.     

梅州市一所高校学生性观念及性行为调查

目的了解梅州市嘉应学院医学院大学一年级男、女生的性观念及性行为，为开展有效的大学生性健康教育提供依据。方法使用自行设计的调查问卷，对梅州市嘉应学院医学院1840名大学一年级男、女生进行调查。结果有33．69％的学生希望在大学期间有性行为，42．93％的学生赞成上学期间的性行为，4．34％的学生上学期间有过性行为，男、女生在以上项目中的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；男生在获取性知识的途径主要为电子媒体和书刊杂志，女生主要为书刊杂志和同伴，二者之间有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论大学一年级是性意识性观念形成的关键时期，应及时开展性健康教育，但在教育方式和内容上男、女生应有所区别。     

北京市大学生生殖健康现状及服务需求调查

目的了解北京市大学生生殖健康的现状及知识需求情况,为高校开展生殖健康教育提供科学依据。方法采用随机整群抽样对北京市2所高校1053名大学生进行匿名自填式问卷调查。结果大学生对避孕知识、艾滋病预防知识了解较少,但对艾滋病3大传播途径认知较好,10.5%的大学生赞成在校期间发生性行为,10.3%的大学生有过性行为,其中每次采用避孕措施的占30.6%。92.1%的大学生希望了解生殖健康相关知识,希望获取生殖健康相关知识的途径依次是学校的健康教育(64.6%),报刊杂志、书籍(56.2%),网络(45.0%),仅有21.2%的大学生主动寻求过生殖健康相关知识。结论北京市大学生避孕知识认知较低,部分大学生对性态度宽容且有无保护性性行为,他们普遍对生殖健康教育有需求,应在大学生中开展生殖健康教育。     

大学女生性行为发生学校阶段和相关危险因素研究

目的调查浙江省某市大学女生性行为发生学校阶段与有关危险性行为和性生殖健康问题关联情况。方法采用统一的调查问卷，对浙江省某市两所大学所有学生进行自答式问卷调查。在963名已经发生性行为的女生中，670名回答了她们所有有关性行为的问题而被纳入了分析。结果较在大学期间发生性行为的女生，在大学前发生性关系的女生，首次性行为更可能不使用安全套，性伴更可能是非固定性的，更可能有怀孕或者流产的经历，过去和过去一年更可能有两个及以上性伴侣，过去一年更可能发生性行为。结论首次性行为发生学校阶段与性病／艾滋病关联危险行为有关联。针对青年人的性病／艾滋病预防策略应包括推迟性行为的发生和在较早的时间进行性安全教育。     

Prevalence and Correlates of Sexual Activity and Function in Women: Results from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey

Relatively few studies have measured sexual functioning in women using a large, diverse, community-based sample with measures that allow for direct comparisons with previous findings. In this article, we: (1) describe prevalence of sexual activity in women by key sociodemographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, marital status, and socioeconomic status; and (2) estimate the influence of key correlates on sexual problems. Data were analyzed from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey, a 2002–2005 community-based epidemiologic study of urologic and gynecologic symptoms, sociodemographics, health status, and psychosocial characteristics in a diverse sample of Boston area residents (N = 3,205 women aged 30–79 years). Analyses of sexual activity prevalence and reasons for inactivity were conducted on the full sample, while analyses of sexual problems and their correlates were conducted for the subset of women who engaged in sexual activity with a partner in the previous 4 weeks. A total of 49% of participants were not sexually active, citing lack of interest (51.5%) and lack of a partner (60.8%) as the most common reasons. Data pertaining to five dimensions of sexual functioning were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Female Sexual Function Index, measuring desire among all women and arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain among those who were sexually active. Among the sexually active, we obtained a 38.4% prevalence rate of sexual problems and 34.9% of those participants reported that they were also dissatisfied with their sex lives. Therefore, only 13.7% of the sexually active sample exhibited both sexual problems and dissatisfaction with their overall sex lives. Age was strongly and positively associated with sexual problems. In terms of psychosocial factors, depression, sexual and physical abuse in adulthood, global mental health functioning, and alcohol were associated with sexual problems, with variation across racial/ethnic groups.     

Test–Retest Reliability and Predictors of Unreliable Reporting for a Sexual Behavior Questionnaire for U.S. Men

Accurate knowledge about human sexual behaviors is important for increasing our understanding of human sexuality; however, there have been few studies assessing the reliability of sexual behavior questionnaires designed for community samples of adult men. A test–retest reliability study was conducted on a questionnaire completed by 334 men who had been recruited in Tucson, Arizona. Reliability coefficients and refusal rates were calculated for 39 non-sexual and sexual behavior questionnaire items. Predictors of unreliable reporting for lifetime number of female sexual partners were also assessed. Refusal rates were generally low, with slightly higher refusal rates for questions related to immigration, income, the frequency of sexual intercourse with women, lifetime number of female sexual partners, and the lifetime number of male anal sex partners. Kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients were substantial or almost perfect for all non-sexual and sexual behavior items. Reliability dropped somewhat, but was still substantial, for items that asked about household income and the men’s knowledge of their sexual partners’ health, including abnormal Pap tests and prior sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Age and lifetime number of female sexual partners were independent predictors of unreliable reporting while years of education was inversely associated with unreliable reporting. These findings among a community sample of adult men are consistent with other test–retest reliability studies with populations of women and adolescents.     

The Sexual Self-Consciousness Scale: Psychometric Properties

An investigation of the Sexual Self-Consciousness Scale (SSCS) is reported that aims to measure individual variability with regard to the construct of self-consciousness as experienced in sexual situations. The construct relates to the attentional-capacity model of sexual arousal. Sexual self-consciousness may constitute a vulnerability factor for the development of sexual dysfunction. In the present study, men and women with sexual dysfunction and healthy control participants were investigated (N = 282). Principal component analysis and multitrait scaling analysis showed that a two-component, oblimin-rotated solution based on 12 items and explaining 53.7% of the total variance could be well interpreted. The Sexual Embarrassment subscale (Cronbach’s α = .84), the Sexual Self-Focus subscale (α = .79), and the full scale (α = .85) were found to have satisfactory to good internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was satisfactory for the Sexual Embarrassment subscale (r = .84), the Sexual Self-Focus subscale (r = .79), and total score (r = .83). An effect of sex was found on the Sexual Embarrassment subscale, with female participants scoring higher than male participants. Compared with sexually functional participants, sexually dysfunctional participants scored higher on the Sexual Embarrassment and Sexual Self-Focus subscales. Convergent and divergent construct validity was investigated by comparing the associations of SSCS subscales with general self-consciousness and psychological distress scales. The pattern of correlations was interpreted as providing support for the instrument’s construct validity. In conclusion, the SSCS was found to have satisfactory reliability and validity characteristics, and is expected to contribute to the field of sex research and clinical sexology.     

某高校大学生生殖健康知识认知及需求调查

目的 了解大学生对生殖健康内容及性传播疾病的认知及需求情况,以便开展有针对性的青春期生蔓殖健康教育.方法 采用自行设计的调查表,对整群抽取的广东商学院2006级和2008级335名大学生进行问卷调查.结果 17.6%的学生能完全正确回答生殖健康内容,2.7%的学生能完全正确回答性传播疾病名称,31.0%的学生能完全正确回答艾滋病传播途径;86.3%的学生知道艾滋病可通过不洁性交、输入被污染的血液及血液制品和母婴途径传播.女生、城市和低年级的学生对性病/艾滋病知识正确回答率高于男生、农村和高年级学生.大学生生殖健康知识主要来源于父母、电视、杂志、互联网和朋友.大学生对生殖健康教育的需求排在前3位的是性生理、性心理、安全性行为等内容;希望学校生殖健康教育采取的主要形式是健康小册子、讲座和课堂授课.结论 青少年的生殖健康教育亟待加强.应根据年轻人生殖健康的需求,采用容易接受的方式进行健康教育,保证青少年的健康成长.     

重庆市中学生性健康知识、态度、教育需求及性别差异分析

目的 了解重庆市不同性别中学生的性健康知识、态度及性教育需求,为制定针对性的中学生性健康及防艾宣传策略提供依据.方法 在重庆主城和近远郊各3个区采取整群抽样的方法抽取初一到高三共六个年级的学生(男生1765名,女生2028名),采用自行设计问卷开展横断面调查.结果 中学生性健康知识总体知晓率较低,女生在性生理发育特点、...     

Understanding sexual risk taking behaviour in Hong Kong university students. A health promotion perspective

BACKGROUND: Levels of sexual experience among Chinese university students are considerably lower than in western countries. Measuring sexual risk-taking behavior of Chinese students is important in designing any effective preventive health programs. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with high-risk sexual behavior among students in a Hong Kong university. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey conducted among year 1 and year 3 Chinese undergraduate students in 1997, using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 1197 students surveyed, only 11% were sexually active (ever had sexual intercourse). Reported sexual activity was higher among year 3 (17%) than year 1 (6.6%) students and higher among males (14.4%) than females (8.3%). Consistent (always) use of condoms was reported by only 43% of the sexually active respondents. Males were more likely to think that premarital sex was acceptable than were females. About 1 in 20 students (55 of 1197) were categorized as belonging to a "greater risk behavior" group, defined by inconsistent or nonuse of condoms during sexual intercourse and having had three or more sexual partners in the past 3 months, or having has sex with prostitutes or ever having a sexually transmitted disease, or using alcohol or other stimulating drugs during sexual intercourse. Males with favorable attitudes toward premarital sex were more likely to belong to the greater risk behavior group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the potential risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases among a substantial proportion of university students, suggesting the need for promotion of preventive education programs.     

大学生性病艾滋病关联性行为研究

目的了解大学生的性行为状况，为学校和有关部门制订性教育、性病艾滋病健康教育和行为干预措施提供参考依据。方法选择浙江省2所综合性大学在校全日制1～4年级学生参加自答式问卷调查。结果2所大学学生有78．0％参加本调查，13．1％的大学生有过性行为，发生性行为的平均年龄19．51岁；首次性行为使用安全套占29．2％；发生性行为的地点主要为旅馆饭店，其次为家里；平均性伴侣1．54个，10．4％学生自己或者性伴侣有过流产的经历；有一定比例的学生分别有买卖性关系，同性或双性性行为；1．4％曾被诊断患过性病，曾经使用过安全套学生回答使用的主要原因是防止怀孕，最后一次性行为有47．8％使用安全套。68．6％～71．1％有性行为的学生认为自己或性伴侣怀孕、自己通过性行为感染性病艾滋病“不可能、可能性非常低或可能性较低”。结论大学生预防性传播感染和HIV／AIDS意识低下，自我保护意识差，安全套使用率低，使用安全套主要是为了防止怀孕而不是预防疾病；多性伴现象严重。同性性行为和卖淫嫖娼客观存在，大学生存在流产、性传播疾病和HIV感染的危险性．针对大学生进行性病艾滋病健康教育和行为干预迫在眉睫。     

Adult Sexual Assault Evaluations at Rhode Island Emergency Departments, 1995–2001

The objectives of this study were to estimate the incidence and identify the temporal patterns of visits to Rhode Island emergency departments (EDs) by adults who were sexually assaulted. Visits to all Rhode Island EDs from January 1995–June 2001 by adults who were sexually assaulted were identified using International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9) codes. Medical records of these visits were reviewed. Frequency distributions of the assault characteristics and patient demographics were generated. Incidence rates (IRs) of ED visits after sexual assault were estimated using 2000 US Census data. Analyses of the temporal patterns of the ED visits after sexual assault were conducted. Of the 823 ED visits, 796 (96.7%) were by females and 27 (3.3%) were by males. The median age for females was 25 years (range, 18–96 years) and was 28 years (range, 18–87 years) for males. Among the female patients, 76.6% sustained a vaginal/anal assault. Among the male patients, 59.3% sustained an anal assault. The average annual IR of ED visits after sexual assault was 30.3/100,000/year for females and 1.2/100,000/year for males, which is a 25-fold greater incidence of these visits for females than males. ED visits after adult sexual assault were more frequent during warmer months and around 5 p.m. There was a gradual 43% increase in the IRs of ED visits after sexual assault over the 6.5-year period. These findings should help direct EDs to maximize supportive services when they are needed most often.