Development of a computer-assisted instructional package for life skills to prevent risky sexual behaviors in early adolescents, Bangkok, Thailand

Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a newly developed computer-assisted instructional package for life skills (CAIFLS) specifically designed to raise awareness of risky sexual behaviors among Thai early adolescents in Bangkok. Methods: The research process included two phases: (1) the development and (2) the use and evaluation of the newly developed CAIFLS package. First, 5 teachers and 5 Grade 7 students of a Bangkok school were interviewed to collect information needed for the development of CAIFLS. The second phase was to implement learning activities through CAIFLS with a total of 87 Bangkok school students, consisting of 44 students for the experimental group who received CAIFLS for 4 sessions, and 43 students for the control group who received routine class lecture. CAIFLS instructions, lesson plans and worksheets were designed as the experiment methods. Then questionnaires of life skills assessments and student satisfaction were used to investigate the effects and the student satisfaction of CAIFLS. Results: The findings revealed that the efficiency values of the CAIFLS package were 80.2/82.5, higher than the set criteria of 80/80. Mean scores on life skills for the experimental group significant increased (p < .05), which was higher than the control group. The students also showed their satisfaction of CAIFLS at a high level (M = 4.20, S.D. = 0.29) Conclusions: CAIFLS can be used as an effective learning tool to enhance life skills to prevent risky sexual behaviors among Thai early adolescents.

Risky sexual behaviors among undergraduates of Pamo University of Medical Sciences: Exploring contributory factors and outcomes

Undergraduates experience overwhelming changes and challenges that expose them to risky sexual behaviors, an act that leads to physical, psychosocial harm and its predictors contribute to lost lecture hours among campus students; hence this study aims at exploring contributory factors and outcomes of risky sexual behaviors among Nursing and Medicine students in PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria. Descriptive survey was conducted in 2019 and 280 students in their first and second year of study from the participating Departments were selected from study population of 491 using Yaro Yamanes sample size formula. Proportionate sampling technique followed by simple randomization was done. Ethical approval and consent were obtained while confidentiality and anonymity were maintained. WHO-adapted questionnaire was administered to respondents with the help of a research assistant. Data was collected using a 3-point Likert statistically-validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.8, analyzed and computed on Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. Mean values below 2.0 were judged insignificant. Findings shows that Ignorance (x¯=2.81), lack of sex education (x¯=2.79), were among the factors that significantly influenced participant’s risky sexual behavior, however, reduced fun associated with use of condom (x¯=1.99) and equivalent of unprotected sex with trust (x¯=1.97) had insignificant impact. Interestingly, participants expressed similar outcomes of risky sexual behavior recording- sexually transmitted infection (x¯=2.80), pregnancy (x¯=2.76) abortion (x¯=2.71), out of School due to non-support by family (x¯=2.65); among others. Finally, risky sexual behavior among undergraduates affects the academic pursuit and there is need to continue reproductive health education if Sustainable Development Goals five and six will be achieved.

Does the Change in Smoking and Marijuana Use Policies Influence Adolescents’ Risky Sexual Behaviors and Other Associated Factors?

Introduction: Despite evidence from numerous studies that document the association between risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) and behaviors driving them, few had investigated the trends of the association over time, which was the objective of this study.Methods: A total of 61,072 students from four Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS) survey years (1993, 2001, 2009, and 2017) were included. The relationship between five risky behaviors (suicide risk, smoking, binge drinking, marijuana use, and physical fight) and two indicators of RSBs (condom non-use and multiple sexual partners) was investigated. Interactions between survey years and risky behaviors were included in the models to test the strength of associations over time.Results: Compared to previous years, most associations between risky behaviors and RSBs were converging. However, there were no consistent decreasing changes in associations across time in marijuana, smoking, and RSBs relationships.Conclusion: Findings raise concerns about the potential impact of interventions directed toward adolescent’s substance use. However, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify directionality and make more specific practice and policy recommendations for adolescents’ smoking and marijuana use as proxies to reduce the growing burden of STIs among this population.Policy Implications: Despite the public push against adolescent’s substance use, our findings may suggest that the policies around tobacco and marijuana use have not been as effective on the adolescent population as intended.

Moderating effect of self-efficacy on the association of intimate partner violence with risky sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men in China

Background In China, men who have sex with men (MSM) face a high risk of HIV infection. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common in this population and leads to various adverse consequences, including risky sexual behaviors, substance abuse, and poor mental health, which pose huge challenges to HIV prevention and control. Methods An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the lifetime prevalence of IPV and prevalence of risky sexual behaviors during the previous 6 months in a convenience sample of 578 MSM from 15 cities covering seven geographical divisions in mainland China. The associations between IPV and risky sexual behaviors and the moderating effect of self-efficacy on these associations were explored through univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results The prevalence rates of IPV perpetration and victimization were 32.5% and 32.7%, respectively. The proportions of participants who reported inconsistent condom use with regular or casual partners and multiple regular or casual sexual partners were 25.8%, 8.3%, 22.2%, and 37.4%, respectively. Multiple IPV experiences were positively associated with risky sexual behaviors; for example, any IPV victimization was positively associated with multiple regular partners, adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.54, 95% CI [1.02,2.32], and multiple casual partners, ORa = 1.93, 95% CI [1.33, 2.80]. Any IPV perpetration was positively associated with inconsistent condom use with regular partners, ORa = 1.58, 95% CI [1.04, 2.40], and multiple casual partners, ORa = 2.11, 95% CI [1.45, 3.06]. Self-efficacy was identified as a significant moderator of the association between multiple casual sexual partnership and emotional IPV. Conclusions In conclusion, given the high prevalence of both IPV and risky sexual behaviors among Chinese MSM in this study, the inclusion of self-efficacy in interventions targeting IPV and risky sexual behaviors should be considered.

User-Agent Bond in Generalizable Environments: Long-Term Risk-Reduction via Nudged Virtual Choices

Avatars or agents are digitized self-representations of a player in mediated environments. While using agents to navigate through mediated environments, players form bonds with their self-agents or characters, a process referred to as identification. Identification can involve automatic, but temporary, self-concept “shifts in implicit self-perceptions” (Klimmt et al., 2010, p. 323) of the media user by adopting or emphasizing the action choices on behalf of the social expectation of the avatar in the mediated environment. In the current study, we test the possibility that users' identification with video game avatars–a bond built between avatars and players- would account for subsequent behavior changes. We did so by using 3-month longitudinal data involving a narratively-based serious game: Socially Optimized Learning in Virtual Environments (SOLVE), a 3D-interactive game designed to reduce risky sexual behaviors among young men who have sex with men (n = 444). Results show that video game identification predicts both the reduction of risky sexual behaviors over time, and reduction in the number of non-primary partners with whom risky sex occurs. And when players identify with the game character, they tend to make healthier choices, which significantly mediates the link between video game identification and reduction of risky behaviors.

Sexual Attitudes and Associated Factors of Risky Sexual Behaviors Among University Students

IntroductionRisky sexual behaviors, because of its adverse health consequences, are a serious problem in the health care system. Adequate awareness of reproductive health in young people is important because they are in the early years of fertility and engaging in risky sexual behaviors are more probable. This study aimed to evaluate the sexual attitude and associated factors of risky sexual behaviors among girls and boys and the difference of sexual norms by gender among university students.MethodsA university-based study with a cross-sectional survey conducted for nine months in 2019. A total of 800 university students were studied by a random sampling technique, using a self-administered structured questionnaire derived from World Health Organization illustrative questionnaire to assess sexual attitudes among adolescents and young adultsResultsMost of the respondents were female and single. Girls were more religious, more frequently visited the cinemas, and were more likely to discuss sex-matters with family members compared to boys. There was no significant difference in the total score of sexual attitude in girls and boys, and both genders had negative attitudes toward risky sexual behavior (42/72). Those who go to parties, bars, or movies were more probable to have risky sexual behavior. Being a religious person is an essential predictor of having less risky behavior (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 0.96,3.41).ConclusionBeing religious was a protective factor for engaging in risky sexual behavior. More interventions in schools and universities need to educate students to enhance awareness about the consequences of RSB and reduce the rate of it.

The difference in the association of risky sexual behaviors with substance use among US adolescents mediated by the type of substance.

Background Although the relationship between risky sexual behaviors and substance use has been established, the interplay between different types of substances and risky sexual behaviors needs further exploration. We aimed to identify the prevalence of risky sexual behavior in US high school students and study the difference in the association of risky sexual behaviors with substance use mediated by the type of substances. Method We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) 2019 data that nationally represents US high school students in grades 9–12. We identified risky sexual behaviors as participants with four or more lifetime sexual partners who did not use a condom during intercourse. Results Out of 11,191 participants, 463 (3.9%) engaged in risky sexual behavior. 17- year old (37.1% vs. 23.0% ;p < 0.0001), >= 18-year old (26.0% vs. 12.8% ;p < 0001) and African American participants (16.8% vs. 10.3%; p = 0.04) had higher prevalence of risky sexual behavior. The prevalence of substance use among participants with risky sexual behavior was higher for all substances (p < 0.0001). In regression analysis, steroid use was associated with the highest odds of risky sexual behavior (aOR: 4.87, 95%CI: 2.48–9.57; p < 0.0001) followed by cocaine (3.80, 1.80-8.00; p = 0.001), marijuana (3.36, 1.64–6.89; p < 0.0001), alcohol (2.41, 1.05–5.55; p = 0.039), electronic vapor product (2.05, 1.004–4.19; p = 0.049), and traditional cigarettes (1.58, 1.10–2.28; p = 0.016). Conclusion Although the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors is low, the prevalence of substance use is significantly higher in participants with risky sexual behaviors. Among the different types of substances, anabolic steroid use has the highest odds of risky sexual behaviors. Clinicians should remain vigilant for anabolic steroid use when screening adolescents for substance use. Further research is needed to study the effects of anabolic steroids on health risk behaviors.

Characterization of the Use of Emergency Contraception from Sentinel Pharmacies in a Region of Southern Europe

Numerous studies have been published suggesting that emergency contraception (EC) is used repeatedly, but a lack of information regarding the profile of users makes it difficult to evaluate actual consumer habits. The aim of this study was to obtain information regarding the profile of users who obtain EC and other factors that might play a role, and to provide criteria to evaluate and improve the strategies of current contraceptive programs. This was an observational one-year study based on surveillance data on the provision of EC to women of reproductive age in 60 community pharmacies in Catalonia, Spain. In total, 941 notifications of dispensation of EC in Catalonia were received. A total of 44.2% of users said it was not the first time that they had taken the medication (repeat user). The percentage of users who used condoms was lower in repeat users compared to first-time users (56.7% vs. 64.4%, p < 0.05). A total of 25.7% of users stated that they did not use any barrier contraceptive method. The use of natural methods in repeat users was 53.8% in the subgroup who requested the medication after 48 h, significantly higher than in users who obtained the medication within the first 24 h (p < 0.05). A high percentage of repeat users with risky sexual behaviors were detected, suggesting that new measures must be implemented to provide information for this method, together with educational and preventive strategies.