Getting Their Feet in the Door: Communication Cues to Action for HIV Testing and Condom Use Behaviors Among Hispanic/Latinx College Students

A review of bidimensional acculturation and STI/HIV-related sexual risk behaviours among Hispanic youth

A growing body of research suggests that acculturation may play a role in the disproportionate likelihood of sexual risk behaviour and STI/HIV infection among Hispanic youth in the USA. We systematically reviewed the relationship between acculturation and STI/HIV-related sexual risk behaviour among Hispanic youth aged 13-24 by reviewing studies that have used a bidimensional acculturation approach. Electronic databases were searched with the searches limited to articles published in 1992 when the concept of bidimensional acculturation was introduced or later. Two independent researchers screened the full data set to assess eligibility. Six studies were included. Three studies used cross-sectional data, while the other three used longitudinal data. We discovered that sexual risk behaviours differed by Hispanic youth acculturation types and were moderated by gender. We found that Hispanic acculturated youth had lower odds of having multiple sex partners than US acculturated youth. However, the relationship between acculturation and condom use yielded contradictory results and we could find no report on bi-culturation and sexual behaviour. Additional research is needed to explore whether adopting both US and Hispanic-heritage cultures at the same time may reduce or increase the odds of engaging in sexual risk behaviour among Hispanic youth in the USA.

Alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviors among fishers in Elmina in Ghana

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is part of human social behavior and constitutes a routine part of social life in many countries. Prior studies have found over-indulgence of fishers in alcohol in fishing communities. The study uses the Alcohol Myopia Theory (AMT) to analyze and explain the phenomena of fishers engaging in sex after alcohol consumption, and condom use with sexual partner(s) after alcohol consumption. The study investigated alcohol consumption, predictors of alcohol consumption, and the reasons for drinking alcohol among fishers. It also examined fishers' engagement in sex after alcohol consumption, the use of condoms with sexual partners after drinking alcohol, and predictors of the use of condoms with sexual partners after drinking alcohol.

METHODS

A cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed-method design was used to study 385 fishers in Elmina. Also, two focus group discussions were conducted among male and female fishers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

Generally, 59.2% of participants indulged in alcohol consumption. Most male participants (70.6%) indulged in alcohol consumption than female participants (48.5%). Also, 48.5% of participants indulged in binge alcohol consumption, while 38.1% indulged in moderate alcohol consumption. The predictors of alcohol consumption were sex, religion, and type of fishing occupation. Participants identified consuming alcohol to kill loneliness and boredom, to forget family and work-related issues, and to have fun as reasons why fishers consume alcohol. Sixty-four percent of participants have ever engaged in sexual intercourse after consuming alcohol in the past 12 months. However, 70% of participants did not use a condom the last time they had sex after drinking alcohol. Only ethnicity of participants predicted their use of a condom the last time they had sex after drinking alcohol. The primary reasons for the non-use of condoms were do not like using condoms (37.9%), forgetting to use a condom (33.0%), and had sex with a trusted regular partner (15.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that alcohol consumption was prevalent among fishers, especially among male fishers, which contributes to risky sexual behaviors among them as espoused by the AMT. It is recommended that fishers are targeted for alcohol use and risky sexual behavior programs and interventions since alcohol use is prevalent among them and most of them also engage in unprotected sexual intercourse after consuming alcohol.

Pornography Consumption and Condomless Sex among Emerging U.S. Adults: Results from Six Nationally Representative Surveys

Using six samples of unmarried U.S. residents aged 18-24 who were part of a larger biennial nationally representative survey (2008-2018), the present study examined whether pornography consumption is a risk factor for condomless sex during emerging adulthood. Condomless sex is the norm in popular, commonly consumed, pornography. Further, emerging adulthood is a time of heightened sexual experimentation and risk taking, and many emerging adults view pornography. Consistent with a sexual scripting perspective on media processes and effects, emerging adults who viewed pornography were more likely to have condomless sex than their peers who did not consume pornography. The link between pornography use and condomless sex was similar for men and women, white youth and youth of color, as well as heterosexual and LGB youth. The link was not moderated by age. Further, the link was robust even when indicators of both sexual and nonsexual sensation seeking predilections were included in analyses. These results are consistent with recent suggestions from public health experts that sex education programs need to include modules on pornography literacy.

Condom use self-efficacy centered on sexual experience, cannabis, and CBD use among college students

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to understand how condom use self-efficacy varies based on sexual experience, cannabis and CBD use.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was implemented through Qualtrics. A total of 455 undergraduate students were surveyed at a large U.S. northeastern university.

RESULTS

Findings suggested that sexual experience itself and sexual experience with cannabis and CBD are associated with a person's condom use self-efficacy. Precisely, non-sexually active and cannabis or CBD nonusers perceived themselves as less efficacious in their future use of condoms compared with sexually active adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Implications for health interventions are discussed, such as the importance of giving attention to non-sexually active adolescents and strengthening their condom use self- efficacy. It is critical to promote healthy sexual behaviors among future sexually active college students and reinforce healthy sexual behaviors among sexually active adolescents.

Assessing Different Types of HIV Communication and Sociocultural Factors on Perceived HIV Stigma and Testing among a National Sample of Youth and Young Adults

In the United States, racial/ethnic and sexual youth and young adults (YYA) of color are disproportionately affected by HIV. Subsequently, YYA experience HIV stigma and engage in increased risk behaviors and reduced HIV testing. HIV communication has been identified as a potential buffer to HIV stigma, resulting in health-seeking behaviors, such as HIV testing. In this study, we respond to a meaningful gap in the literature by examining different types of HIV communication and their impact on HIV stigma and HIV testing in a diverse sample of YYA. We analyzed secondary data from the Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey of Teens and Young Adults on HIV/AIDS. A 40-question, web-based survey was conducted with 1437 youth (ages 15-24). Recruitment included a dual sampling method from households with: (1) listed phone numbers, (2) unlisted phone numbers, (3) telephones, (4) no telephone, and (5) only cell phone access. The purpose of the survey was to establish participants' HIV knowledge, communication, experiences, and testing behaviors. Findings suggested an association between intimate-partner HIV communication, increased HIV testing, and reduced HIV stigma. We also identified differentials in HIV testing and stigma based on gender, income, age, and sexual minority status, explained by HIV communication. Further research is needed that examines ways to use intimate-partner HIV communication to reduce stigma and increase HIV testing among YYA of different sociodemographic characteristics and sexual orientations.

HIV/AIDS and the social determinants of health: a time series study

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the time trend, spatial distribution, and the cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases with social determinants of health. Methods: Ecological and analytical study, carried out based on the cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome notified in a state in the Brazilian Midwest, from 2009 to 2018. The study used descriptive analysis, polynomial regression, and geospatial analysis. Results: In 10 years, there were 9,157 notifications, growing each year. There was a growing trend for both sexes (p<0.001, r2=0.94). The City Human Development Index was related to the higher number of cases (city of notification, p=0.01; and city where the person lives, p=0.02). The highest concentration was in cities that house health macro-regions. Conclusion: Social determinants have a relationship with the time trend and the spatial distribution of cases and can direct strategies for prevention and care.

HIV/AIDS em região de tríplice fronteira: subsídios para reflexões sobre políticas públicas

RESUMO Objetivo analisar a tendência dos casos de HIV/Aids por sexo e faixa etária nas cidades gêmeas de Mato Grosso do Sul. Método estudo ecológico de série histórica. Foram utilizadas as fichas de notificação de HIV/Aids, do período de 2009 a 2018, disponibilizadas pela Secretaria de Estado de Saúde e analisadas segundo estatística descritiva, regressão polinomial e geoespacialização dos casos. Resultados foram registradas 734 notificações, sendo 57,9% em homens, e com maior incidência no biênio 2017-2018 em ambos os sexos. A tendência de crescimento das notificações apresenta-se com aceleração positiva nas cidades gêmeas (r2=0,91; p<0,001). Os maiores coeficientes de determinação foram observados em mulheres, na faixa etária de 35 a 49 anos (r2=0,98; p<0,001), e em homens de 15 a 19 anos (r2=0,96; p<0,002). Conclusão os resultados desafiam profissionais e gestores no combate à pandemia de HIV/Aids, carecendo de reflexões contínuas diante as estratégias/políticas públicas adotadas até o momento, em especial na região de fronteira. Implicações para a prática: o profissional enfermeiro, ao conhecer o perfil da sua população e a distribuição dos casos, consegue traçar estratégias capazes de atingir o público de forma eficaz e efetiva.