Gender differences in life circumstances, monthly income, risky sexual and drug behaviors among injection drug users in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This study investigated the gender difference between male and female injection drug users’ (IDUs) life circumstances, income and risky sexual and drug behaviors. The study sample comprised of 318 male and 249 female injection drug users in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. There were gender differences between male and female IDUs in terms of life circumstances and sexual behaviors. There were no differences in the drug behaviors among the two sexes. Women were more likely to be 21-25 years of age, have had more sexual partners in the last 30 days, traded sex for money, and have been sexually abused as a child. On the other hand, the males were more likely to be 26-30 years of age and have never used a condom during sex in the last 30 days. Regardless of the differences in sexual risk behaviors by gender, both male and female injection drug users in Dar es Salaam are at risk of HIV/AIDS, blood borne and other sexually transmitted diseases associated with drug use.^

Process evaluation of intervention program for prevention of early sexual activity and alcohol use among Hispanic teenagers

Hispanic teens are a high-risk population for initiation of early sexual activity and alcohol use which in turn has numerous social and health consequences. One strategy to address prevention of these behaviors is to implement a capacity building intervention that promotes parent child communication, encompasses their cultural values and community participation. This study describes the process evaluation of a pilot intervention program amongst Hispanic teens and their families living along the Texas-Mexico border. “Girls Lets Talk” is a small group intervention with 10-14 year old teens and their female adult family members that involves education regarding effects of alcohol use and sexual activity as well as activities for monitoring and refusal skills to prevent risky behaviors. Two waves of the program each consisting of at least seven mother daughter dyads were conducted. During the designing process, community advisory board meetings and focus groups were held to review course materials and ensure they were appropriate to the Mexican American culture. Parent and adolescent surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the intervention to assess for psychosocial outcome variables. All sessions received high mean satisfactory scores (mean of 4.00 or better on a five point scale) for both adult and adolescent participants. Qualitative feedback was obtained via debriefing sessions to evaluate experience as well as alter recruitment strategies. A Wilcoxon Sign Rank analysis of the pre and post intervention surveys was done that showed significant changes in some outcome variables such as intentions and confidence for monitoring behaviors for adults and beliefs regarding sexual activity. “Girls Lets Talk” is a promising example of how a process evaluation plan can help develop a theory based health promotion program using the community based participatory research approach. The intervention may also be effective in altering intentions and enhancing self-efficacy among parents and teens in order to decrease risky behaviors such as early sexual activity and alcohol use.^

Incidence of breast cancer in first-degree female relatives of men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common incident cancer and the second leading cause of death in men in the United States. Although numerous attempts have been made to identify risk factors associated with prostate cancer, the results have been inconsistent and conflicting. The only established risk factors are age and ethnicity. A positive family history of prostate cancer has also been shown to increase the risk two- to three-fold among close relatives.^ There are several similarities between breast and prostate cancer that make the relationship between the two of interest. (1) Histologically, both cancers are predominantly adenocarcinomas, (2) both organs have a sexual and/or reproductive role, (3) both cancers occur in hormone-responsive tissue, (4) therapy often consists of hormonal manipulation, (5) worldwide distribution patterns of prostate and breast cancer are positively correlated.^ A family history study was conducted to evaluate the aggregation of prostate cancer and co-aggregation of breast cancer in 149 patients referred to The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. All patients were white, less than 75 years of age at diagnosis and permanent residents of the United States. Through a personal interview with the proband, family histories were collected on 1,128 first-degree relatives. Cancer diagnoses were verified through medical records or death certificate. Standardized incidence ratios were calculated using a computer program by Monson incorporating data from Connecticut Tumor Registry.^ In this study, familial aggregation of prostate cancer was verified only among the brothers, not among fathers. Although a statistically significant excess of breast cancer was not found, the increased point estimates in mothers, sisters and daughters are consistent with a co-aggregation hypothesis. Rather surprising was the finding of a seven-fold increased risk of prostate cancer and a three-fold increased risk of breast cancer among siblings in the presence of a maternal history of any cancer. Larger family history studies including high risk (African-Americans) and lower-risk groups (Hispanics) and incorporating molecular genetic evaluations should be conducted to determine if genetic differences play a role in the differential incidence rates across ethnic groups. ^

EFFECTS OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL ON SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF RAT LIVER MIXED FUNCTION OXIDASE

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with vehicle (olive oil) or 37.5, 75, 150 or 300 mg/kg of (DELTA)('9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on days 18 or 19 of gestation. Male offspring as well as a group of hypophysectomized rats (positive control) were sacrificed at 35 days of age, while females and hypophysectomized control were sacrificed at 36 days of age. The sex-differences in ethylmorphine-N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase liver activities were evaluated.^ Ethylmorphine-N-demethylase activity showed a significant difference between males and females from control and 37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg THC dosed groups. Female offspring exposed prenatally to 300 mg/kg THC had a significant increase (p < .01) in N-demethylation activity, while their male counterparts had similar enzyme activity to those found in the male groups from control and 37.5 to 150 mg/kg THC dosed. Moreover, the percent increase in the 300 mg/kg THC dosed females was similar to that detected in the hypophysectomized female rats (positive control). As expected no sex difference in aniline hydroxylase activity was detected in control as well as exposed groups, including the 300 mg/kg THC dosed group.^ It is concluded that (DELTA)('9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol administered once by gavage in days 18 or 19 of gestation alters the liver Mixed Function Oxidase (MFO) sexual dimorphism imprinting process of the rat. ^

Young Jewish adults sexual behaviors Peer, parental and surrounding influences

A qualitative study was conducted on young Jewish adults to determine cultural sexual health patterns with in the Jewish adolescent community. The young Jewish adults were recruited through Jewish social settings, such as Hillel Student Centers in Austin and Houston, Texas. Jewish was self-defined. A young adult, for this study, was defined as being between the ages of 18 and 23. Both female and males are needed in the study group. Individual interviews revealed 35 themes identifying the cultural, parental, peer, and surrounding factors that affect sexual behaviors during Jewish adolescence. Overall, this research demonstrates the need to further study and understand the culture and behaviors with in the Jewish community to then create a tailored intervention on healthy sexuality.^

A comparison of health behaviors of African -American male and female illicit drug users: Implications for community health practice

Prevalence of drug use, HIV, syphilis, and other STDs is particularly high in African-American populations. Although some studies have documented protective changes in health behaviors relevant to these outcomes, other research indicates that risky health behaviors are still widespread. Moreover, little is known about how African-American men and women have differed in their responses to calls to adopt protective behaviors. The study reported in this dissertation investigates gender differences in health risk behavior in a sample of 482 African American chronic, frequent injection drug and crack cocaine users residing in Houston, Texas. It uses baseline and 9 month follow-up data collected on this sample. Four major research questions are addressed. These questions are: Research question 1. What was the overall pattern of reduction in drug use for subjects in the sample? In particular, did subjects who reported a recent (30 day) reduction in drug use and needle sharing risk at baseline also report a reduction at follow-up? Research question 2. Is gender significantly associated with the overall pattern of risk reduction in drug injection observed in the two waves of the study? Research question 3. Is gender significantly associated with the overall pattern of reduction in the number of sexual partners observed in the two waves of the study? Research question 4. Is gender significantly associated with the overall pattern of increase in the use of barrier contraceptives in the two waves of the study? ^