Sexual behavior and contraceptive risk taking among sexually active adolescent females

Drawing on DeLamater's conceptual model of premarital contraceptive activity, this study assessed the relationships between various social, developmental, and behavioral variables and contraceptive risk taking by sexually active adolescent females. The hypotheses were tested on a national random sample of unmarried sexually active adolescent females (n = 1512) ages 15–20 years from Cycle III of the National Survey of Family Growth. The number of years the subjects had been sexually active was the strongest predictor of their frequency of sexual intercourse, followed by their frequency of attendance at religious services. The inverse relationship between religious attendance and coital frequency was much stronger among whites than blacks. When the influence of these variables on contraceptive risk taking was assessed, coital frequency explained 7.2% of the variation in contraceptive risk taking, with the number of years the adolescent had been dating explaining a small amount of additional variation. Our data support not only the first stage of DeLamater's conceptual model of premarital contraceptive activity, but also aspects of Jessor's more general theory of adolescent risk taking and problem behavior.     

Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of refusing unwanted sex among African-American adolescent females.

PURPOSE: To identify psychosocial and behavioral correlates of refusing unwanted sex among African-American female adolescents. We hypothesized that greater power in relationships, less concern about negative emotional consequences, supportive family and peers, positive self-perceptions, greater perceived risk, and fewer sexual risk behaviors would be associated with increased odds of refusing unwanted sex. METHODS: Data regarding demographics, sexual behaviors, communication with parents, and psychosocial factors relevant to romantic and sexual partnerships were collected both via self-administered questionnaire and structured interview from a clinic- and school-based sample of 522 African-American adolescent females ages 14-18 years in Birmingham, Alabama. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of those who had experienced pressure for unwanted sex (n = 366), 69% consistently refused to engage in unwanted sex. Adolescents with high safer sex self-efficacy and low perceived partner-related barriers (i.e., concerns about partners' negative emotional reactions) to condom negotiation were over 2.5 times more likely to consistently refuse unwanted sex than were those reporting low safer sex self-efficacy and high partner-related barriers. Adolescents who spoke more frequently with their parents about sexual issues were nearly twice as likely to consistently refuse unwanted sex than were those who spoke less frequently with their parents. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual-risk reduction efforts directed toward adolescent females should seek to build self-efficacy to negotiate safer sex and provide training in social competency skills that may help to reduce or eliminate partner barriers to condom use. Further, sexual risk-reduction programs may be more effective if they include parents as advocates of safer sexual behaviors.     

A flowchart for managing sexually transmitted infections among Nigerian adolescent females

OBJECTIVE: To devise a flowchart suitable for assessing risk of trichomoniasis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea in an adolescent population, not all of whom will be sexually experienced or currently in a relationship. METHODS: The data used to derive the flowchart were generated from cross-sectional microbiological surveys of girls aged 14-19 years in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The flowchart screened on the basis of: (i) sexual experience; (ii) recent sexual activity; (iii) a positive urine leukocyte esterase (LE) test; and (iv) among LE negatives, a history of malodorous/pruritic discharge. FINDINGS: Using this flowchart, we found that 26.2% of all adolescents screened would receive treatment for cervicitis and vaginitis. Chlamydial, gonococcal, and trichomonal infections were correctly diagnosed in 37.5%, 66.7%, and 50% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the flowchart is more suitable for an adolescent population than the vaginal discharge algorithm used in syndromic management protocols, it still lacks precision and needs adapting to local settings.     

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in sexually active women with no known sexual contacts with urethritis

During the period from March 1985 to March 1986, 216 consecutive patients with vaginal symptoms were screened for cervical infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and other sexually transmitted organisms. Eleven (5%) yielded C. trachomatis without a history of recent contact with males with urethritis.     

Subsequent infection among adolescent African-American males attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

PURPOSE: To identify predictors of subsequent infection among a sample of 15- to 19-year-old African-American males attending an urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in the Midwest. METHODS: During a 14-month period, 562 youth participated in a brief STD prevention intervention designed to promote condom use. They completed self-administered questionnaires (baseline, posttest, 30-day and 6-month) on their sexual and condom use behavior in the past month. Infection data (baseline, 5 years before, and 12 months after baseline) were obtained from clinic and state surveillance records. Logistic regression was used to predict infection within 6 and 12 months of the baseline visit. RESULTS: Within 12 months of the baseline, 31.3% were treated for an infection, of whom 1.4% returned within 30 days, an additional 17.1% within 6 months, and the remaining 12.8% within the last 6 months. The 12-month rate was 1.6-1.7 times higher than the rates reported for older STD clinic attendees. Subsequent infection was positively associated with age at first intercourse, number of children fathered, infection prior to and at the index visit, exchange of sex for drugs in the past year, and perceived risk of infection within the year; it was negatively associated with frequency of condom use with one's steady partner. CONCLUSIONS: Sexually transmitted disease clinic staff routinely obtain information from young African-American males that can be used to identify individuals who are most likely to become reinfected. Because repeaters account for a disproportionate number of infections, prevention efforts tailored to their needs would have a corresponding impact on STD rates.     

New sex partner acquisition and sexually transmitted disease risk among adolescent females.

PURPOSE: To determine the association between new sex partner acquisition and incident STDs, to describe predictors of acquiring a new sex partner, and to compare new and established sex partnerships among adolescent females. METHODS: Interview data and biological specimens for STD testing were collected from a sample of 411 adolescent females (average age 17.3 years, 44% black and 42% Hispanic) enrolled in a longitudinal study. The relationship between having a new sex partner and incident STD infection was estimated with logistic regression. RESULTS: Acquisition of a new sex partner during the 12-month follow-up period was common (24%) and significantly associated with an incident STD infection (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.6-5.7). Predictors of new partner acquisition were younger age, younger age at first intercourse, and alcohol or drug use before sex in past 30 days. Being in a new partnership was significantly associated with greater uncertainty about the partners' STD history and recent sex with others. CONCLUSIONS: Being in a new sex partnership is an important predictor of incident STD infection. Awareness of this risk can help clinicians identify individuals who are more likely to get STDs and therefore target STD testing and appropriate prevention messages.     

性病相关门诊无症状就诊者生殖道沙眼衣原体感染现状及影响因素分析

目的 了解深圳市STD相关门诊无症状就诊者生殖道沙眼衣原体（CT）感染现状及影响因素，为制定干预措施提供参考依据。方法 采用横断面调查研究方法，于2018年4月15日至5月16日在深圳市南山区、罗湖区、宝安区、龙岗区、盐田区、龙华区的22家医疗机构招募STD相关门诊就诊者，完成知情同意后，收集其社会人口学相关信息并采集尿液标本进行CT核酸检测，采用logistic回归分析CT感染的影响因素。结果 无症状就诊者CT感染率为7.16%（250/3 492）。单身（aOR=2.29，95%CI：1.65~3.16）、外地户籍（aOR=1.49，95%CI：1.04~2.13）、最近1年未检测CT（aOR=2.04，95%CI：1.03~4.05）是无症状就诊者CT感染的危险因素。外地户籍中，大专及以下文化程度占89.25%（2 176/2 438），年龄≤30岁占51.29%（1 255/2 447），≤30岁者感染CT的风险是>30岁者的1.73（95%CI：1.28~2.34）倍。结论 深圳市STD相关门诊无症状就诊者CT感染率较高，应针对性活跃年龄段、单身、文化程度较低、最近1年未检测CT的STD相关门诊就诊者开展CT常规筛查，提高重点人群对CT基本知识及不良结局的知晓率，预防不良结局的发生。     

Prevalence and correlates of weight-control behaviors among Caribbean adolescent students.

Adolescent students from nine English-speaking Caribbean countries completed a survey that assessed weight-control behaviors. Weight-control behaviors were prevalent and similar across gender. Extreme weight-control behaviors were related to several psychosocial factors and compromising health behaviors. Future interventions should target adolescents who are using weight-controlling behaviors to prevent future eating disturbances and psychosocial and health morbidities.     

Topic: prevalence and determinants of adolescent pregnancy among sexually active adolescent girls in Niger

Journal of Public Health - All over the world, including in Niger, adolescent pregnancy remains a challenge requiring urgent solution. This study sought to examine the prevalence and determinants...     

Chlamydia screening in at-risk adolescent females: An evaluation of screening practices and modifiable screening correlates

PurposeTo identify modifiable correlates of chlamydia screening that could offer intervention targets to enhance screening.MethodsWe surveyed a representative sample of primary care providers (n = 186) at an integrated healthcare delivery system to document their self-reported adherence to annual screening of sexually-active adolescents and to identify specific, modifiable constructs that were correlated with annual chlamydia screening. To cross-validate providers’ self-report, we also used automated data to examine adolescent screening in an anonymous sample of primary care providers (n = 143).ResultsForty-two percent of providers reported annual chlamydia screening of sexually-active adolescents. Univariate correlates of annual screening were: provider type (non-physician) (p = .01), female gender (p = .001), fewer years of clinical experience (p = .001), greater perceived knowledge about chlamydia (p = .001), greater confidence across a range of screening-related activities (p ≤ .01), greater comfort recommending screening for sexually transmitted diseases (p = .001), and greater perceived patient comfort discussing sexual issues (p < .01). In multivariate analyses, providers’ perceived knowledge, confidence, comfort, and perceived patient comfort continued to be significantly associated with annual chlamydia screening after controlling for other relevant provider characteristics. Self-reported screening practices were consistent with observed screening rates in the anonymous provider sample.ConclusionsRoutine chlamydia screening among asymptomatic, at-risk adolescent females could be enhanced through additional intervention targeting specific provider attitudes and beliefs about chlamydia screening.     

Chlamydia trachomatis Prevalence in Unselected Infertile Couples

Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is responsible for the most common sexual transmitted disease and infertility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate: a) the frequency of chlamydial infection in unselected infertile couples and b) whether chlamydial infection could be identified in the semen sample as effectively as in the urethral swab of infertile patients. To accomplish this, 73 unselected, consecutive infertile couples were enrolled. Both male and female partners underwent a complete work-up to identify the cause of their infertility. A PCR method was used to detect C. trachomatis in urethral swabs and the semen samples of the male partners and in the cervical swabs of the female partners. C. trachomatis infection was found in 6 couples (8.2%). Three couples had both partners infected, 2 couples had only the male partner infected, and 1 only the female partner. C. trachomatis infection was found in the urethral swab of all 5 men infected, whereas the bacterial DNA was found in the semen sample of 2 of them. These findings suggest that C. trachomatis infection is present in about 8% of unselected infertile couples and that the bacterium should be searched in the male partner urethral swab which has a higher sensitivity.     

Disordered eating and its psychosocial correlates among chinese adolescent females in Hong Kong

Objectives: To study the prevalence of disordered eating and its relationship with body dissatisfaction, family dysfunction, and depression among Chinese adolescent females in Hong Kong. Method: Two hundred ninety-four schoolgirls completed a demographic and weight history sheet, Eating Attitudes Test-26, Body Dissatisfaction Scale, cohesion and conflict subscales of the Family Environment Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: 6.5% of subjects were EAT-26 high scorers. Disordered eating was positively predicted by body dissatisfaction and, to a lesser extent, family cohesion and conflict. Body dissatisfaction was in turn positively predicted by depression, which was negatively predicted by family cohesion. Discussion: Western patterns of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes are common among Chinese adolescent females. In the presence of psychosocial vulnerability factors, more weight control behavior and eating disorders may be expected to arise in Hong Kong. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant patients

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease of epidemic proportions, infecting an estimated 4 million people a year. It results not only in infertility and ectopic pregnancy but also in infant morbidity and mortality. Ectopic pregnancy is responsible for 11 percent of maternal deaths. About 60 percent of infected women can transmit the bacteria at birth to their infants. Early detection and treatment of chlamydia in both men and women, especially prenatal women, is critical. Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the cervix was found in 8.1 percent of a group of 1,004 pregnant women at a hospital prenatal clinic by means of a direct fluorescent antibody test. The prevalence of C. trachomatis was only 0.7 percent in 277 pregnant women receiving prenatal care from private practitioners. All patients between 27 and 30 weeks gestation who tested positive were treated with oral erythromycin. Their partners were treated with tetracycline. The outcome of pregnancy in patients treated for chlamydial infection was compared with a control group of noninfected mothers from the same population. The frequency of premature rupture of the membranes, prematurity, and low Apgar scores among the treated women were not significantly different from those in the control group. There was a significant difference, however, between the two groups in the incidence of low mean birth weight infants and the presence of meconium. Children can acquire a chlamydial infection at birth from contact with infected cervico-vaginal secretions. If not detected and treated, these infected infants may develop conjunctivitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. It is suggested, therefore, that all patients at prenatal clinics be screened for chlamydial cervicitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of Chlamydia trachomatis among pregnant and non-pregnant women in south-western Greece

One-hundred-ninety-three pregnant and seventy five non-pregnant women, aged 18–35 years, were examined for endocervical infection with Chlamydia trachomatis using an enzyme immunoassay technique on cervical specimens. Chlamydia trachomatis was discovered in 7.2% of the pregnant women and in 10.6% of the non-pregnant ones. There was no correlation between chlamydia infection and either previous vulvovaginitis, previous pregnancies or pregnancy outcome. However, younger, more highly educated women with high sexual promiscuity tended to be more frequently colonized.