Telling stories about abortion: abortion-related plots in American film and television, 1916–2013

Objectives

Popular discourse on abortion in film and television assumes that abortions are under- and misrepresented. Research indicates that such representations influence public perception of abortion care and may play a role in the production of social myths around abortion, with consequences for women’s experience of abortion. To date, abortion plotlines in American film and television have not been systematically tracked and analyzed.

Study design

A comprehensive online search was conducted to identify all representations of pregnancy decision making and abortion in American film and television through January 2013. Search results were coded for year, pregnancy decision and mortality outcome.

Results

A total of 310 plotlines were identified, with an overall upward trend over time in the number of representations of abortion decision making. Of these plotlines, 173 (55.8%) resulted in abortion, 80 (25.8%) in parenting, 13 (4.2%) in adoption and 21 (6.7%) in pregnancy loss, and 16 (5.1%) were unresolved. A total of 13.5% (n= 42) of stories ended with the death of the woman who considered an abortion, whether or not she obtained one.

Conclusions

Abortion-related plotlines occur more frequently than popular discourse assumes. Year-to-year variation in frequency suggests an interactive relationship between media representations, cultural attitudes and policies around abortion regulation, consistent with cultural theory of the relationship between media products and social beliefs. Patterns of outcomes and rates of mortality are not representative of real experience and may contribute to social myths around abortion. The narrative linking of pregnancy termination with mortality is of particular note, supporting the social myth associating abortion with death.

Implications

This analysis empirically describes the number of abortion-related plotlines in American film and television. It contributes to the systematic evaluation of the portrayal of abortion in popular culture and provides abortion care professionals and advocates with an initial accurate window into cultural stories being told about abortion.     

High-Risk Sexual Activity in the House and Ball Community: Influence of Social Networks

Objectives. We investigated the roles of House membership and the influence of social and sexual network members on the sexual risk behavior of men in the Los Angeles House and Ball community.Methods. From February 2009 to January 2010, male participants (n = 233) completed interviewer-assisted surveys during a House meeting or Ball event. We used logistic regression to model the effects of sexual network size, influence of sexual network members, House membership status, and their interactions on high-risk sex.Results. Significant predictors of high-risk sex included number of sexual partners in the nominated social network, multiethnicity, and previous diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection. House membership was protective against high-risk sex. Additionally, a 3-way interaction emerged between number of sexual partners in the network, influence, and network members’ House membership.Conclusions. Future research should assess network members’ attitudes and behavior in detail to provide a greater understanding of the dynamics of social influence and to identify additional avenues for intervention.African American men who have sex with men (MSM) have disproportionately high rates of HIV. African American MSM are being diagnosed with HIV or AIDS at more than twice the rate of White or Hispanic MSM,1 yet the individual-level risk behaviors of African American MSM do not explain the disparities in infection rates.2–4 It is important to examine the social context of African American MSM to help explain these disparities and to develop appropriate preventive interventions.One particularly noteworthy avenue for approaching HIV prevention among African American MSM is the context of the House and Ball communities. Houses and Balls have a long history in the African American community.5 Presently, “Balls” can be characterized as underground social events that reward individuals who win competitions focused on dance, athletics, and gender expression. “Houses” are structured groups of individuals, led by a “mother,” “father,” or both, that compete against each other during Balls.6 Balls and Houses function as different entities yet work together in forming the vibrant community often known as the “Ballroom” or “Ball scene.”House and Ball communities are present in cities such as Los Angeles and Oakland, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; New York, New York; and Washington, DC.7 Yet relatively little research exists to describe the health and risk behaviors of individuals who participate in Houses and Balls. The few studies reporting HIV prevalence estimates among these communities have suggested that HIV is highly prevalent among House and Ball participants in Baltimore and New York,8 with HIV infection rates in New York potentially as high as 20%.6,9A connection to the gay community has been well established as an important factor in understanding HIV risk behavior among MSM10; for African American MSM, who may experience rejection from the broader gay community because of their race,11 a connection to similar peers in the House and Ball community may be particularly salient.12 As an underground community, the House and Ball scene serves social as well as entertainment functions. Social support is an integral part of Houses and Balls,7,13 and social networks frequently form among House members, although these networks may vary in composition, size, and organization. Social network members may exert a direct influence on individuals’ behavior and an indirect influence via individuals’ perceptions of their network members’ attitudes and behaviors. For example, lower HIV risk behavior among African American MSM has been associated with perceived social norms that support condom use, even when network members did not use condoms themselves.14 Additionally, strong associations have been shown of self-reported condom use with perceptions of friends talking about condoms, using condoms, and encouraging others to use condoms.15Social network analyses can help to elucidate such social influence processes on risk and protective behavior,16 and social network approaches have previously been used to understand HIV risk in other populations.17,18 Although the strongest source of influence is generally found between direct ties, including sexual partners, the degree of social influence carried by a network member may also be linked to social roles and in-group status.19 Because in-group members are more influential, their behavior may exert a greater impact on a group member’s health choices than does similar behavior from out-group members.Because of the importance of social networks in the House and Ball community and the role of social processes, particularly among cohesive in-groups, in determining health behavior, we investigated the interplay between characteristics of community members’ social networks and their own health behavior choices. We examined the roles of relationships, House membership, and perceived influence of social network members on sexual risk behaviors. We hypothesized that House members would be more likely to use condoms to protect their in-group. We further hypothesized that having sexual partners who were House members—and thus, per the first hypothesis, likely to use condoms to protect their in-group—would also protect against sexual risk but only when those sexual partners were reported to be highly influential.     

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the ethnic density effect in psychotic disorders

Purpose

A number of studies have found an ethnic density effect in psychotic disorders, where the incidence for ethnic minorities increases as the neighbourhood proportional ethnic composition decreases [Morgan and Hutchinson, Psychol Med 40:705–709, (2010); Singh, Psychol Med 39:1402–1403, (2009); Schofield et al., Psychol Med 41:1263–1269, (2010)]. However, there is a mixed picture with some studies reporting no effect [Schofield et al., Psychol Med 41:1263–1269, (2010)]. This review aimed to establish the existence of the effect by answering the review question: is there an ethnic density dose effect in the prevalence of psychotic disorders?

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by two independent reviewers using PsychINFO, Web of Science and PubMed databases. Studies were measured against eligibility criteria and then pooled with any discrepancies discussed between reviewers. Studies were then assessed for quality using a standardised quality assessment.

Results

In total, eight studies were included. A meta-analysis was conducted which found that the incidence of psychotic disorders was higher in low ethnic density areas than high ethnic density areas. A narrative synthesis reflected the complexity when results were broken down by individual ethnic groups where some ethnic groups had inverse or no associations with ethnic density. The synthesis also analysed methodological differences between studies.

Conclusions

The review reports evidence of an overall ethnic density dose effect for ethnic minorities, but with more mixed results for individual ethnic groups. The possible mechanisms behind this effect are explored, including exposure to racism, social capital and social cohesion hypotheses. The wide-ranging implications of the review are discussed along with recommendations for future research to continue to inform public health policy.     

A genetic risk score predicts coronary artery disease in familial hypercholesterolaemia: enhancing the precision of risk assessment

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD); however, risk prediction and stratification remain a challenge. Genetic risk scores (GRS) may have utility in identifying FH patients at high CAD risk. The study included 811 patients attending the lipid disorders clinic at Royal Perth Hospital with mutation-positive (n = 251) and mutation-negative (n = 560) FH. Patients were genotyped for a GRS previously associated with CAD. Associations between the GRS, clinical characteristics, and CAD were assessed using regression analyses. The average age of patients was 49.6 years, and 44.1% were male. The GRS was associated with increased odds of a CAD event in mutation-positive [odds ratio (OR) = 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-8.2; P = .009] and mutation-negative FH patients (OR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.0-3.3; P = .039) after adjusting for established predictors of CAD risk. The GRS was associated with greater subclinical atherosclerosis as assessed by coronary artery calcium score (P = .039). A high GRS was associated with CAD defined clinically and angiographically in FH patients. High GRS patients may benefit from more intensive management including lifestyle modification and aggressive lipid-lowering therapy. Further assessment of the utility of the GRS requires investigation in prospective cohorts, including its role in influencing the management of FH patients in the clinic.     

Molecular Characterization of a Catalase-Negative Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus Strain Collected from a Patient with Cutaneous Abscess

We describe a cutaneous abscess caused by catalase-negative methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus in a patient who was concomitantly colonized with virulent USA300 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Sequencing of the katA gene demonstrated a thymine insertion leading to a frameshift mutation and premature truncation of catalase to 21 amino acids.     

Associations of objectively measured sedentary behavior,light activity,and markers of cardiometabolic health in young women

Purpose

To investigate the associations among objectively measured sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and markers of cardiometabolic health in young women.

Methods

Cardiovascular disease risk factors, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid accumulation product, and inflammatory markers were measured in 50 young, adult women. Accelerometers were worn over 7 days to assess sedentary time (<150 counts min^?1), light physical activity (150–2,689 counts min^?1), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; ≥2,690 counts min^?1). Multivariate regression examined independent associations of sedentary behavior and light physical activity with cardiometabolic health. Covariates included MVPA, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO_2peak) and body mass, and body composition.

Results

Sedentary behavior was associated with triglycerides (p = 0.03) and lipid accumulation product (p = 0.02) independent of MVPA. These associations were attenuated by VO_2peak and body mass or body composition (p ≥ 0.05). Light physical activity was independently associated with triglycerides and lipid accumulation product after adjustment for all covariates (p < 0.05). The association between light physical activity and HOMA-IR was independent of MVPA (p = 0.02) but was attenuated by VO_2peak and body mass or body composition (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Sedentary behavior and light physical activity were independently associated with markers of cardiometabolic health in young, adult women. Our data suggest that VO_2peak and body composition may be important mediators of these associations. Decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing light physical activity may be important for maintaining cardiometabolic health in young, adult women.