A Systematic Review of Sexual Minority Women's Experiences of Health Care in the UK

Sexual minority women (SMW) experience worse health and disproportionate behavioural risks to health than heterosexual women. This mixed-methods systematic review evaluated recent studies on health experiences of UK SMW, published 2010–2018. Analysis was through narrative thematic description and synthesis. Identified were 23,103 citations, 26 studies included, of which 22 provided qualitative and nine quantitative results. SMW had worse health experiences that might impact negatively on access, service uptake and health outcomes. Findings highlighted significant barriers facing SMW, including heteronormative assumptions, perceptions and experiences of negative responses to coming out, ignorance and prejudice from healthcare professionals, and barriers to raising concerns or complaints. Little information was available about bisexual and trans women’s issues. Findings highlighted the need for explicit and consistent education for healthcare professionals on SMW issues, and stronger application of non-discrimination policies in clinical settings.

Polyvictimization and Substance Use Among Sexual Minority Cisgender Women

Violent victimization and substance use are higher among sexual minority cisgender women (SMCW) than heterosexual cisgender women. Unknown, however, is how polyvictimization-experiencing multiple types of violent victimization-affects substance use among SMCW. Purpose/Objectives: This study explores the relationship between polyvictimization and substance use among a small sample of SMCW. Methods: An exploratory secondary data analysis was conducted on data from a convenience sample of 115 SMCW currently in relationships (70.4% lesbian, 73.9% non-Hispanic white) via a cross-sectional survey. Lifetime physical, sexual, and crime-related violent victimization were measured via the Trauma History Questionnaire. Past-year substance use was measured via the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10). Mann-Whitney U testing and linear regression modeling were used to examine differences in substance use by victimization status (victimized/non-victimized) and the association between polyvictimization and substance use. Results: Lifetime prevalence of violent victimization was high with 60.9% of the sample reporting at least one type of victimization: 10.4% experienced physical, 22.6% experienced sexual, and 22.6% experienced crime-related violent victimization. Substance use was significantly greater for victimized participants than non-victimized participants. Modeling showed that as violent victimization increased by one unit, substance use scores increased by .30 units. Conclusion/Importance: Preliminary evidence suggests that increase in violent victimization was associated with increased substance use among SMCW. Findings indicate a need for additional confirmatory research with more representative samples and longitudinal data. Behavioral health practitioners are urged to consider the implications of these findings and assess for past cumulative violence and current risk of substance use disorder, to appropriately facilitate treatment planning.

Resistance development in pink bollworm (Pectinophora Gossypiella Saunders) against Bt cotton and its' establishment as mid season pest in India

The pink boll worm now became a menace for sustainable cultivation of Bt cotton in India. Based on the data recorded in unsprayed conditions at 13 different locations of north, central and south cotton growing zone between 2007 and 2023, initiation of green boll damage during later part of the season was observed on Bt cotton genotype during 2009-2014 wherein incidence of PBW already existed on non-Bt genotype. In our research, between 2014 and 2017, the central and southern regions of India experienced a rise in the survival of pink bollworms on Bt cotton surpassing the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) whereas in the north zone PBW incidence started in 2018 at experimental locations. The data validate the initial success of Bt/BG-II cotton in its first ten years (2002-2013) of introduction including pink bollworm, which caused negligible green boll damage (0-1.03%) on Bt/BG-II genotypes, while the incidence on non-Bt genotypes was much higher (2.5-23.01%). Following that, an establishment phase was detected in 2014, confirmed by the equal presence of pink boll worm in BG-II and non-Bt, with minimal infestation differences in BG-II and non-Bt, indicating a larger presence of resistant individuals. Following 2014, the coexistence of PBW in BG-II and non-Bt populations was noted concurrently, with a gradual increase in incidence over ETL beginning in the middle of the season. Farmer's field surveys reported highest number of locations above ETL during 2017 with a decreasing trend both in central and south zone. In the north, infestations were low until 2021, but increased significantly, reaching their highest point in 2023. The emergence and spread of PBW resistance to Bt cotton, facilitated by off-season survival and carryover, poses a substantial threat to the sustainability of BG-II cotton cultivation in India.