Download or read book The Development and Evaluation of a Web based Intervention to Increase Safer Sexual Behavior Among Undergraduate Students written by Erika Megumi Shearer and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite the high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among undergraduate students, a paucity of empirically supported programs aimed at reducing STI transmission exist. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a theory-driven, web-based, safer sex intervention tailored specifically for undergraduate students. A sample of 100 sexually active undergraduate students completed baseline questionnaires assessing sociodemographics, sexual risk taking, history of potentially traumatizing events, endorsement of health behavior theory constructs (e.g. health behavior constructs pertaining to the theory of reasoned action and transtheoretical model), and endorsement of specific barriers to condom use. Results from the 30 undergraduate students who completed questionnaires at 1-month follow up revealed a significant effect of the intervention condition on condom use behaviors, with individuals in the web-based safer sex intervention condition reporting more consistent condom use than individuals in the waitlist control condition. There was no effect of the intervention on ratings of health behavior theory constructs. Results of a hierarchical regression analysis revealed that 31% of the variability in condom use was predicted by the combination of relationship status, condom use intent and behavioral processes of change. Over half of intervention participants reported that the information presented in the intervention was relevant, they "learned a great deal", the experience was fun, and they would recommend the workshop to a friend. This study provides preliminary evidence in support of the effectiveness and feasibility of a web-based intervention aimed at increasing safer sexual behaviors among undergraduate students.
Download or read book Sexually Transmitted Infections written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by . This book was released on 2021-12-24 with total page 750 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One in five people in the United States had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) on any given day in 2018, totaling nearly 68 million estimated infections. STIs are often asymptomatic (especially in women) and are therefore often undiagnosed and unreported. Untreated STIs can have severe health consequences, including chronic pelvic pain, infertility, miscarriage or newborn death, and increased risk of HIV infection, genital and oral cancers, neurological and rheumatological effects. In light of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through the National Association of County and City Health Officials, commissioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene a committee to examine the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections in the United States and provide recommendations for action. In 1997, the Institute of Medicine released a report, The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Although significant scientific advances have been made since that time, many of the problems and barriers described in that report persist today; STIs remain an underfunded and comparatively neglected field of public health practice and research. The committee reviewed the current state of STIs in the United States, and the resulting report, Sexually Transmitted Infections: Advancing a Sexual Health Paradigm, provides advice on future public health programs, policy, and research.
Download or read book Disease Control Priorities Third Edition Volume 6 written by King K. Holmes and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2017-11-06 with total page 1027 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death globally, particularly among children and young adults. The spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective packages of interventions and strategies across delivery platforms to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, adult febrile illness, viral hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases. The volume emphasizes the need to effectively address emerging antimicrobial resistance, strengthen health systems, and increase access to care. The attainable goals are to reduce incidence, develop innovative approaches, and optimize existing tools in resource-constrained settings.
Download or read book The Impact of a Prospect Theory based Intervention on Selected College Students Safer Sex related Intentions and Behaviors written by Carol Lynne Galletly and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: The theoretical foundation of this study is derived from Kahneman and Tversky's prospect theory (1979). Seminal constructs are what Kahneman and Tversky describe as a decision maker's "reference point" which contributes to whether a decision situation is evaluated from either a gain, loss, or a neutral decision "frame." Because, as prospect theory postulates, the value of gains or losses follows a nonlinear, actually "S"--Shaped function, decision makers who evaluate a decision framed as a loss will tend to make decisions that are risk-tolerant while decision makers who evaluate their decision in the realm of gains will be more risk-averse. This study explored the applicability of prospect theory's "S"-shaped value function to sexually transmitted disease prevention efforts through a safer sex intervention designed around a series of differently framed brochures on safer sex. Based on the premise that safer sex is a risky practice in that those initiating it run the risk of offending a partner or impairing sexual functioning or pleasure, five primary hypotheses were developed to determine whether subjects exposed to a negatively framed brochure on safer sex would respond more favorably on post-intervention questionnaire items related both to their intentions to practice safer sex and to their actual practice of safer sexual behaviors than subjects exposed to a brochure designed with a positive frame or to a brochure presenting no arguments at all. Data from 231 subjects were collected before the intervention began, immediately after the intervention and then ten weeks later at a second post-test. The research design was pre-test post-test comparison group design. Analysis of variance results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the mean of the safer sex intention or behavior scores of subjects exposed to a brochure emphasizing what could be lost by not practicing safer sex and the mean of the safer sex intention or behavior scores of subjects exposed to a brochure emphasizing what can be gained or maintained by practicing safer sex or a brochure presenting information on safer sex with no frame at all.
Download or read book The Hidden Epidemic written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1997-03-28 with total page 446 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States has the dubious distinction of leading the industrialized world in overall rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), with 12 million new cases annually. About 3 million teenagers contract an STD each year, and many will have long-term health problems as a result. Women and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to these diseases and their health consequences. In addition, STDs increase the risk of HIV transmission. The Hidden Epidemic examines the scope of sexually transmitted infections in the United States and provides a critical assessment of the nation's response to this public health crisis. The book identifies the components of an effective national STD prevention and control strategy and provides direction for an appropriate response to the epidemic. Recommendations for improving public awareness and education, reaching women and adolescents, integrating public health programs, training health care professionals, modifying messages from the mass media, and supporting future research are included. The book documents the epidemiological dimensions and the economic and social costs of STDs, describing them as "a secret epidemic" with tremendous consequences. The committee frankly discusses the confusing and often hypocritical nature of how Americans deal with issues regarding sexualityâ€"the conflicting messages conveyed in the mass media, the reluctance to promote condom use, the controversy over sex education for teenagers, and the issue of personal blame. The Hidden Epidemic identifies key elements of effective, culturally appropriate programs to promote healthy behavior by adolescents and adults. It examines the problem of fragmentation in STD services and provides examples of communities that have formed partnerships between stakeholders to develop integrated approaches. The committee's recommendations provide a practical foundation on which to build an integrated national program to help young people and adults develop habits of healthy sexuality. The Hidden Epidemic was written for both health care professionals and people without a medical background and will be indispensable to anyone concerned about preventing and controlling STDs.
Download or read book Evaluation of Seventeen Days in Ohio Pennsylvania and West Virginia written by Joan C. Eichner and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Seventeen Days intervention, which was adapted from the evidence-based What Could You Do? intervention, is a stand-alone interactive video that can be used in health clinics or other settings to promote safer sexual behaviors and decision-making among adolescent females. The overarching goals of the program are to reduce both teen birth rates and rates of sexually transmitted infections among teenage girls. This evaluation team, using a randomized controlled trial design with an enrolled sample of over 1,300 adolescent females in three Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states, found no general effects of Seventeen Days on reducing risky sexual behavior at the six-month post-randomization assessment. Adolescents who were randomized to view Seventeen Days were no more likely than those who were randomized to view a driving skills video to report abstinence or using a condom consistently and correctly at every sexual encounter in the three months prior to their six-month post-randomization assessment. The relationship between dose, viewing patterns, and participant outcomes will be explored in future analyses. Other planned analyses will explore participant characteristics such as age, sexual experience at baseline, relationship status, and others; viewing choices and dose; and the program's impacts on sexual health knowledge and self-efficacy for negotiation safer sexual behavior.
Download or read book Investing in the Health and Well Being of Young Adults written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-01-27 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Young adulthood - ages approximately 18 to 26 - is a critical period of development with long-lasting implications for a person's economic security, health and well-being. Young adults are key contributors to the nation's workforce and military services and, since many are parents, to the healthy development of the next generation. Although 'millennials' have received attention in the popular media in recent years, young adults are too rarely treated as a distinct population in policy, programs, and research. Instead, they are often grouped with adolescents or, more often, with all adults. Currently, the nation is experiencing economic restructuring, widening inequality, a rapidly rising ratio of older adults, and an increasingly diverse population. The possible transformative effects of these features make focus on young adults especially important. A systematic approach to understanding and responding to the unique circumstances and needs of today's young adults can help to pave the way to a more productive and equitable tomorrow for young adults in particular and our society at large. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults describes what is meant by the term young adulthood, who young adults are, what they are doing, and what they need. This study recommends actions that nonprofit programs and federal, state, and local agencies can take to help young adults make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. According to this report, young adults should be considered as a separate group from adolescents and older adults. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults makes the case that increased efforts to improve high school and college graduate rates and education and workforce development systems that are more closely tied to high-demand economic sectors will help this age group achieve greater opportunity and success. The report also discusses the health status of young adults and makes recommendations to develop evidence-based practices for young adults for medical and behavioral health, including preventions. What happens during the young adult years has profound implications for the rest of the life course, and the stability and progress of society at large depends on how any cohort of young adults fares as a whole. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults will provide a roadmap to improving outcomes for this age group as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Download or read book The Condom Carnival Assessment of a Novel Group Intervention Aimed to Decrease Sexual Risk and Increase Condom Use Among College Students written by Mollie Blair Anderson and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: College students frequently report not using condoms, placing them at risk for unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. This study aimed to investigate the preliminary efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of The Condom Carnival, a novel, brief, interactive, culturally-tailored, and peer-led sexual risk reduction group intervention for college students. A longitudinal, randomized controlled trial was utilized to compare the efficacy of the Condom Carnival to an education-only control condition (HIV/STI 101) and a treatment control condition (VOICES/VOCES, a CDC effective behavioral intervention). To encourage college students to increase their condom use and lower their sexual risk, the Condom Carnival has three specific aims: 1) address knowledge deficits in sexual health information, 2) improve condom-related self-efficacy, and 3) increase awareness of risky sexual behaviors. Due to the interactive, skills-based, and peer-led nature of the Condom Carnival, we hypothesized that participants would report greater efficacy and acceptability of the Condom Carnival compared to the other interventions. Undergraduate and graduate students were trained as Condom Carnival peer-facilitators. 119 undergraduates, aged 18-57 year (M = 21.8), were recruited for this study. Student were 77% Female, 52% Black, 42% White, 6% Latino, and 1% Asian. All questionnaires (pre-, post-, and follow-up) were administered online. Two-way Mixed ANOVAs, McNemar's tests, and a One-way ANOVA were used to examine the interventions' comparative efficacy and acceptability; frequencies were examined to determine the feasibility of Condom Carnival activities. The Condom Carnival had higher acceptability ratings and performed better than the education-only condition in teaching participants about lubricant safety and correct condom use skills. The Condom Carnival had equivalent acceptability and efficacy as VOICES/VOCES in teaching sexual health information (HIV and lubricant safety knowledge), improving facets of condom-related self-efficacy (condom negotiation strategies and correct condom use skills), and increasing awareness of risky sexual behaviors (lowering number of sexual partners, decreasing general sexual risk, and increasing safe sex behaviors). All Condom Carnival participants engaged in every activity, thus displaying excellent feasibility. The Condom Carnival, with its scalability, has utility for teaching college students sexual risk reduction and condom use promotion. This study is promising for intervention researchers, community preventionists, and campus service providers.
Download or read book Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Adolescents written by Karl L. Dehne and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This document presents a comprehensive literature review, documenting existing experience with the provision of services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to adolescents. It draws from programme experience worldwide, including the following service delivery models: public and nongovernmental organization health services which have been made adolescent-friendly, sexual and reproductive health clinics and multipurpose centres for young people, school-based or school-linked services, and community-based and private sector services.
Download or read book Testing the Efficacy of a Brief Social Cognitive Theory Based Safer Sex Intervention Among African American College Students written by Amar Kanekar and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Safer sex is important for protection against STDs and HIV/AIDS. Most of the HIV-related research is targeted towards high-risk groups such as prostitutes, gays and substance abusers but there is evidence that HIV/AIDS is increasing in college students particularly among African American college students. Social cognitive theory was used in the past to reduce teenage drinking, improve cardiovascular health, and healthy nutrition .Very few of the theory constructs had been used to predict safer sex behaviors in college students. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a brief social cognitive theory based safer sex intervention among African-American college students. A preliminary study using a cross-sectional survey design was conducted. Six self-report scales were developed for (1) situational perceptions toward safer sex, (2) expectations for safer sex, (3) self-efficacy for safer sex, (4) self-efficacy in overcoming barriers for safer sex, (5) self-control for safer sex and (6) practices for safer sex. Readability, face validity and content validity of these scales were established by a panel of six experts and the researcher in a two round review process. Construct validity of scales was established by confirmatory factor analysis by administering it to 150 college students. The scales were found to be construct valid, internally consistent with most Cronbach's alpha over 0.70 and satisfactory test retest reliability coefficients over 0.70. For the main study a randomized controlled design was used. The statistical design was a one between and one within repeated measures design. A convenience sample of 141 African-American college students from all majors, undergraduate and graduate students was randomized into two arms of the intervention such that there were approximately equal groups of 70 students in each arm of the intervention (theory-based) and control (knowledge-based) group. The intervention for each arm of the target population of African American college students consisted of two hour workshops. A pretest, a post-test at one week and a follow-up of the participants at six weeks was conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 for descriptive statistics. Repeated measures analyses of variance were carried out using the SAS version 9.1. Results indicated that the students assigned to the experimental (theory-based) and the knowledge-based (non-theory) intervention group did not differ in terms of the demographic variables. The mean changes in scores for various constructs of social cognitive theory used in this study were not significantly different between pre- and post-intervention. It can be concluded that there is no difference between a brief theory-based intervention (based on social cognitive theory) and a brief knowledge-based intervention in terms of efficacy in developing safer sex behavioral skills in a study sample of African-American college students at a large mid-western University. Dose of the intervention was found to be insufficient and must be increased in future interventions.
Download or read book Evaluation of Video Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex VOICES VOCES written by Ariele Leigh Edwards and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This research evaluated the evidence-based VOICES/VOCES Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections prevention intervention conducted at Metrolina AIDS Project. Paired t-tests were used to determine if this intervention resulted in a change in STI knowledge and/or a change in the intentions of five high risk behaviors. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a random sample of volunteers who participated in the intervention program. Transcripts were analyzed and codes were developed. The intervention resulted in a statistically significant increase in STI knowledge (p=.001) and increased behavioral intentions to reduce high risk sexual behaviors CV"-.005). Overall, participants were satisfied with the intervention content and delivery. The VOICES/VOCES program is beneficial to Metrolina AIDS Project.
Download or read book Optimization of Behavioral Biobehavioral and Biomedical Interventions written by Linda M. Collins and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-02-08 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a framework for development, optimization, and evaluation of behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical interventions. Behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical interventions are programs with the objective of improving and maintaining human health and well-being, broadly defined, in individuals, families, schools, organizations, or communities. These interventions may be aimed at, for example, preventing or treating disease, promoting physical and mental health, preventing violence, or improving academic achievement. This volume introduces the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), pioneered at The Methodology Center at the Pennsylvania State University, as an alternative to the classical approach of relying solely on the randomized controlled trial (RCT). MOST borrows heavily from perspectives taken and approaches used in engineering, and also integrates concepts from statistics and behavioral science, including the RCT. As described in detail in this book, MOST consists of three phases: preparation, in which the conceptual model underlying the intervention is articulated; optimization, in which experimentation is used to gather the information necessary to identify the optimized intervention; and evaluation, in which the optimized intervention is evaluated in a standard RCT. Through numerous examples, the book demonstrates that MOST can be used to develop interventions that are more effective, efficient, economical, and scalable. Optimization of Behavioral, Biobehavioral, and Biomedical Interventions: The Multiphase Optimization Strategy is the first book to present a comprehensive introduction to MOST. It will be an essential resource for behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical scientists; statisticians, biostatisticians, and analysts working in epidemiology and public health; and graduate-level courses in development and evaluation of interventions.
Download or read book Development of a Behaviour Change Intervention to Improve Sexual Health Service Use Among University Undergraduate Students written by Christine Cassidy and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduction: University undergraduate students are within the highest risk population for acquiring sexually transmitted infections and other negative health outcomes. Effective prevention relies on regular condom use and early detection and treatment. Despite the availability of sexual health services at university health centres, many students delay or avoid seeking care. The aim of this study was to develop intervention strategies to improve sexual health service use among university students. Methods: This study used a three-phased, sequential explanatory mixed methods research design guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel. In phase one, a secondary analysis of online survey data from two universities in Nova Scotia was conducted to describe the rates and predictors of undergraduate students' use of sexual health services. In phase two, focus groups and interviews with students, health care providers, and administrators were conducted to identify barriers and enablers to student use of sexual health services. In phase three, stakeholder consultation meetings were held to select intervention content and potential modes of delivery. Results: A total of 2,625 female students and 1,074 male students were included in the secondary analysis. Only 22% of female students and 8% of male students reported having ever accessed sexual health services at their university health centre. Barriers and enablers to sexual health service use included: knowledge and awareness of sexual health services, service accessibility, peer influence, campus culture, stigma, privacy and confidentiality. Key linkages between opportunity and motivation were found to influence students' access of sexual health services. Six intervention functions and 15 behaviour change techniques were identified as relevant to include in interventions to improve sexual health service use. Conclusions: This study details the use of the Behaviour Change Wheel to develop interventions strategies aimed at improving university students' use of sexual health services. The Behaviour Change Wheel provided a useful framework for integrating multiple sources of data to inform the selection of theory- and evidence-based intervention strategies. University administrators and decision-makers can use these strategies to design, implement, and evaluate sexual health service interventions that are feasible within the context of their health centre.
Download or read book Preventing and Mitigating AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa written by National Research Council (U.S.). Panel on Data and Research Priorities for Arresting AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and published by National Academies. This book was released on 1996-01-01 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to affect all facets of life throughout the subcontinent. Deaths related to AIDS have driven down the life expectancy rate of residents in Zambia, Kenya, and Uganda with far-reaching implications. This book details the current state of the AIDS epidemic in Africa and what is known about the behaviors that contribute to the transmission of the HIV infection. It lays out what research is needed and what is necessary to design more effective prevention programs.
Download or read book Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students BASICS written by Linda A. Dimeff and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 1999-01-08 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This instructive manual presents a pragmatic and clinically proven approach to the prevention and treatment of undergraduate alcohol abuse. The BASICS model is a nonconfrontational, harm reduction approach that helps students reduce their alcohol consumption and decrease the behavioral and health risks associated with heavy drinking. Including numerous reproducible handouts and assessment forms, the book takes readers step-by-step through conducting BASICS assessment and feedback sessions. Special topics covered include the use of DSM-IV criteria to evaluate alcohol abuse, ways to counter student defensiveness about drinking, and obtaining additional treatment for students with severe alcohol dependency. Note about Photocopy Rights: The Publisher grants individual book purchasers nonassignable permission to reproduce selected figures, information sheets, and assessment instruments in this book for professional use. For details and limitations, see copyright page.
Download or read book International technical guidance on sexuality education written by UNESCO and published by UNESCO Publishing. This book was released on 2018-01-15 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The school shooter a threat assessment perspective written by Mary Ellen O'Toole and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2009 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
