Using focus groups to investigate the educational needs of female injecting heroin users in Taiwan in relation to HIV/AIDS prevention

Factors Associated with Sexual Risks and Risk of STIs, HIV and Other Blood-Borne Viruses Among Women Using Heroin and Other Drugs: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review identified factors associated with sexual risks related to sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and other blood-borne viruses (BBV) among women using heroin and other drugs. The search strategy included five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycNET, Web of Science, Scopus), and PsycEXTRA for grey literature. Out of the 12,135 publications screened, 30 peer-reviewed articles were included. Most publications were cross-sectional (n = 25), quantitative (n = 23) and included 11,305 women. Factors identified were: (1) socio-demographics; (2) gender roles and violence against women; (3) substance use; (4) transactional sex; (5) partner characteristics, partner’s drug use, and context of sex; (6) preferences, negotiation and availability of condoms; (7) HIV status and STIs; (8) number of sexual partners; (9) love and trust; (10) reproductive health and motherhood; and (11) risk awareness and perception of control. Overall, this review highlights important implications for future research and practice, and provides evidence for developing STI/BBV preventive strategies.

Examining the Principles of Influence on Safer Sex Communication During Casual and Committed Sexual Encounters

Teens and young people are at risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections. Understanding how relationship context may moderate the effectiveness of safer sex communication strategies among this demographic is important information for practitioners striving to promote safer sex behaviors. In this study, focus groups (N = 9) with college students were conducted and analyzed to examine the relation between 6 principles of influence (authority, consistency, liking, reciprocity, scarcity, and social proof) and safer sex communication during committed and casual sexual encounters. Results revealed that with the exceptions of social proof and consistency, the principles of influence were endorsed more frequently for casual than committed sexual encounters. For casual sexual encounters, the principles of authority, reciprocity, and scarcity arose as influential principles. For committed sexual encounters, the principles of consistency, liking, and reciprocity arose as influential principles. These results are discussed with an emphasis on the theoretical and practical implications.

An examination of the principles of influence on condom use decision making during casual sex encounters

Cialdini's (1984) principles of influence were employed to inform the decision-making process with respect to using condoms during casual sex. In the current study, focus groups (n = 9) were conducted to understand the relationship between the six principles of influence (authority, consistency, liking, reciprocity, scarcity, and social proof) and condom use in casual sex relationships. Results revealed that authority, consistency, and social proof were endorsed often as influencing condom use. Gender differences in the endorsement of the principles were also observed. The results speak to how these principles of influence aide the condom decision-making process during these often spontaneous sexual encounters and are discussed with an emphasis on the theoretical and practical implications for using these principles in future health campaigns.

Low Papanicolaou smear screening rate of women with HIV infection: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan, 2000-2010

BACKGROUND

Women infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a higher risk of contracting cervical cancer. Recent guidelines recommend that all HIV-positive women should receive two Pap smears in the first year after their HIV diagnosis.

METHODS

This was a population-based cohort study, and the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan was used to estimate the Pap smear screening rate for 1449 HIV-infected women aged 18 years and over from 2000 to 2010. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HIV-infected women who had received Pap smears.

RESULTS

Of 1449 women, 618 (43%) women received at least one Pap smear. Only 14.7% of the HIV-infected women received Pap smears within one year after being diagnosed with HIV. A logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with receiving at least one Pap smear after HIV diagnosis were increasing age (AOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.05), high monthly income (AOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.51-2.23), any history of antiretroviral therapy (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.38-2.29), retention in HIV care (AOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.04-1.77), a history of sexually transmitted diseases (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.50-2.56), and any history of treatment for opportunistic infections (AOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.91-3.16).

CONCLUSIONS

A great need exists to develop strategies for promoting receipt of Pap smear screening services that specifically target severely disadvantaged women with HIV, particularly younger, lower income women and those in an asymptomatic phase.

Health Promotion: Results of focus groups with African-American men

BACKGROUND: Almost half (49%) of the people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the United States (US) are African-Americans. Although African-Americans represent only about 13% of the overall population, they continue to account for a higher proportion of cases at all stages of HIV/AIDS. Most documented interventions targeting the African-American population have focused on women, children, men who have sex with men or drug addicts. METHODS: Six focus group sessions with African-American men (39) and women (15) were conducted in a heterogeneously populated American city. We used a pre-focus group questionnaire to collect data about the socio-economic background of the participants. In our focus group sessions we examined the feasibility of instituting a health promotion program for African-American men. RESULTS: The men who participated in the sessions showed great interest in attending the health promotion program. They had no prior knowledge of positive behavioral practices that could promote their individual health and well-being. HIV infection rates in the African-American population remain the highest in the US. CONCLUSION: The results of our focus group sessions showed that the heterosexual African-American men were eager to learn how to protect themselves against communicable and non-communicable diseases in health promotion programs.

Lifetime occurrence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) and substance use risk among prerelease South African prison inmates

The current study examined self-reported history of STI and substance use risk behaviors in a sample of South African prison inmates. Participants were 344 inmates from four prisons in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Significance tests were conducted using univariate logistic regressions to examine the independent associations of Lifetime occurrence of a Sexual Transmitted Infection and dichotomized correlates of substance use risk behavior. Findings showed that inmates in Mpumalanga (OR 1.43; 95% CI 0.90, 2.23) had a greater risk for STIs than inmates in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) (OR 1.11; 95% CI 0.88, 1.37). Moreover, past experience using injection drugs (OR 2.34; 95% CI 0.62, 8.88), experience of needle sharing (OR 2.13; 95% CI 0.55, 8.27), and drug/alcohol use leading to problems at school or work were the strongest indicators for inmates having a lifetime STI.

Women and HIV/AIDS in China: gender and vulnerability

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to determine if there was a research gap between women's vulnerability to HIV and research addressing that vulnerability in China. Türmen's article Gender and HIV/AIDS served as a framework for examining the eight determinants placing women and adolescent girls at greater risk of HIV infection than men. Eighty-eight research reports were retrieved and categorized by general characteristics and the eight determinants. Women were found to be more vulnerable than men to HIV infection in China and worldwide. While researchers reported a considerable amount of research regarding women's HIV/AIDS-related issues in China, there is insufficient attention to some risk determinants. Investigators are encouraged to take advantage of political commitment and policy changes in China to conduct more research focusing on female vulnerability and to address the effects of violence, laws, stigma, and discrimination in female HIV prevention.