Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus-type 2 in African-American college women. (33/5263)

This study examines the relationship between sexual behaviors and prevalence of herpes simplex virus-type 2 (HSV-2) among African-American college women. Subjects (n = 138) were recruited randomly from a state university to participate in a study regarding sexual attitudes and behaviors and to have their blood drawn for type-specific HSV seroprevalence. Sera were analyzed for 96 college women with a mean age of 21 years. Of the 96 women, 29 (30%) were HSV-2 seropositive. The results of this study revealed that a history of sexually transmitted disease was predictive of HSV-2 infection. Number of lifetime partners, however, was not related to HSV-2 seropositivity. Four (31%) of the 13 women who reported only one lifetime partner were seropositive. These findings indicate that for young African-American college women, the risk of being infected with HSV-2 is high even with only one lifetime partner. Behavioral strategies focused on decreasing the number of sexual partners are not likely to be sufficient in preventing the spread of HSV-2 infection among young African-American women. The development and use of alternative approaches to prevent the spread of HSV-2 among young African Americans should be considered.  (+info)

Getting a high response rate of sexual behavior survey among the general population in Japan: three different methods of survey on sexual behavior. (34/5263)

The purpose of this study was to specify the most accurate, reliable and valid technique for a general sexual behavioral survey in Japan. This pilot study was conducted to assure a high response rate and to keep respondents' privacy confidential by using an anonymous questionnaire survey technique. The sample (360 potential respondents) was selected randomly from basic resident registers in two geographically different areas. From the registries, 90 residents, aged 20 to 49 years old, were randomly selected to represent each sex from each area. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups each having a different procedure of requesting the completion of the survey and providing the questionnaires: (1) Postal Group, (2) Telephone Group, and (3) Face-to-face Group. The survey was carried out from October 1995 to February 1996. Effective response rates for the above mentioned three groups were 69.2%, 69.2% and 55.8%, respectively. It is difficult to determine the best method when only considering the effective response rates. However, judging from our effort and expense, the mail survey is the best possible procedure and would be a reasonable method for a national sexual behavior survey.  (+info)

Behavioural risk factors for HIV/AIDS in a low-HIV prevalence Muslim nation: Bangladesh. (35/5263)

A review of published and unpublished data indicates the prevalence of high-risk behaviours for HIV transmission in segments of the Bangladeshi population. These include casual unprotected sex, heterosexual as well as between males, prior to and after marriage. Intravenous drug use (IVDU) exists though illicit drugs are more commonly inhaled. There is a fear, however, that inhalers may turn to injecting drugs, as is common in neighbouring countries. The lack of public awareness of HIV/AIDS, and misconceptions about the disease, may contribute to continued high-risk behaviours by segments of the population and, thus, to the spread of HIV. Bangladesh's proximity to India and Myanmar (countries with high HIV endemicity and a rapidly growing number of cases) increases fears of an epidemic in Bangladesh. This proximity will only be a risk factor, however, if high-risk contacts occur between nationals of these countries.  (+info)

Application of computer-assisted interviews to sexual behavior research. (36/5263)

Collection of sensitive data with the use of video-enhanced, computer-assisted, self-administered interviews (V-CASI) has the potential to reduce interview bias and improve the validity of the study. The purpose of this study was to compare responses to sensitive questions elicited by V-CASI and by face-to-face interview (FTFI) methods. Women attending a New Orleans, Louisiana, public family planning or sexually transmitted disease clinic from July 1995 to July 1996, diagnosed with a Chlamydia trachomatis infection responded to eight close-ended behavioral questions (four socially undesirable, two socially desirable, and two neutral behaviors) using both FTFI and V-CASI techniques in a randomized crossover design. Of the 280 women included, the mean age was 23 years, 95 percent were African American, and 71 percent felt comfortable using computers. While kappa scores indicated good-to-excellent agreement between interview techniques, women tended to admit to socially undesirable behaviors more often on V-CASI compared with FTFI. Thirty percent of the women gave a discrepant response between V-CASI and FTFI toward social desirability. Women who reported a socially undesirable behavior in V-CASI (i.e., more than two sex partners and infrequent condom usage) were more likely to have a discrepant response. Utilization of the same logistic regression model to predict condom use yielded different results when data from V-CASI were used compared with data from FTFI. The V-CASI technique can reduce social desirability bias and improve validity in research requiring information on sensitive sexual behaviors.  (+info)

Sexual mixing patterns in the spread of gonococcal and chlamydial infections. (37/5263)

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to define, among sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attendees, (1) patterns of sex partner selection, (2) relative risks for gonococcal or chlamydial infection associated with each mixing pattern, and (3) selected links and potential and actual bridge populations. METHODS: Mixing matrices were computed based on characteristics of the study participants and their partners. Risk of infection was determined in study participants with various types of partners, and odds ratios were used to estimate relative risk of infection for discordant vs concordant partnerships. RESULTS: Partnerships discordant in terms of race/ethnicity, age, education, and number of partners were associated with significant risk for gonorrhea and chlamydial infection. In low-prevalence subpopulations, within-subpopulation mixing was associated with chlamydial infection, and direct links with high-prevalence subpopulations were associated with gonorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Mixing patterns influence the risk of specific infections, and they should be included in risk assessments for individuals and in the design of screening, health education, and partner notification strategies for populations.  (+info)

Sexual health risk assessment and counseling in primary care: how involved are general practitioners and obstetrician-gynecologists? (38/5263)

OBJECTIVES: This study examined physicians' evaluation of sexual health risks during a general medical examination and sexually transmitted disease (STD) counseling during consultations for adolescent contraception and treatment of an STD. METHODS: An anonymous mail survey was conducted in 1995 with a stratified random sample of 1086 general practitioners and all 241 obstetrician-gynecologists practicing in Quebec, Canada. RESULTS: Fewer than half of the respondents reported routinely inquiring about condom use and number of sexual partners during a general medical examination. Female general practitioners engaged in more sexual health risk assessment and counseling than male general practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a low level of involvement in STD prevention by generalists and obstetrician-gynecologists.  (+info)

Involving men in reproductive health: the Young Men's Clinic. (39/5263)

OBJECTIVES: This report describes the population of young men who use the Young Men's Clinic in New York City, presents a profile of their reproductive behaviors, and describes the clinic's model of service delivery. METHODS: Data were gathered through a routine clinic visit form administered by clinic staff. RESULTS: The clinic sees approximately 1200 predominately Dominican young men each year for a wide range of clinical and mental health services. Two thirds of clients had ever been sexually active, three quarters had ever used birth control, and 69% had used birth control at their last sexual encounter. CONCLUSIONS: The Young Men's Clinic may serve as a model for health care delivery to adolescent and young adult males.  (+info)

Shigellosis. Another sexually transmitted disease? (40/5263)

Following the clinical observation that there appeared to be an association between shigellosis and male homosexuality, the medical records of 113 patients at The New York Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 38 males studied who were between the ages 19 and 61, seventeen were homosexual (44-7 per cent.). Only one of the matched controls was homosexual. Of the men with shigellosis who had a history of foreign travel, 10 per cent. were homosexual; however, among the patients without a travel history, 57-1 per cent. were homosexual (P less than 0-05). For male patients with shigellosis who do not have an appropriate travel history, the physician should expand his epidemiological investigation to include sexual contacts. Men and women who perform rectal intercourse should be cautioned to abstain from this activity until their stool cultures are negative for shigella. If a male patient with shigellosis is homosexual, he should be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, and amoebiasis.  (+info)