Digital Commons Network^™

Self-Collected Vaginal Swabs For Hpv Screening: An Exploratory Study Of Rural Black Mississippi Women, Richard A. Crosby, Michael E. Hagensee, Rebecca Fisher, Lindsay R. Stradtman, Tom Collins

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Objectives. To determine the post-procedure acceptability of self-collecting a vaginal swab for HPV testing among a highly impoverished and geographically isolated population of medically underserved Black women residing in the Mississippi Delta. Further, to test correlates of reporting that self-collection is preferred over Pap testing. Finally, to determine the prevalence of any of 13 high-risk HPV types among this population and the correlates of testing positive.

Methods. Eighty-eight women were recruited from two churches located in different towns of the Mississippi Delta. After completing a survey, women were provided instructions for self-collecting a cervico-vaginal swab and completing a post-collection survey. …

Is Sex With Older Male Partners Associated With Higher Sexual Risk Behavior Among Young Black Msm?, Nicholas Chamberlain, Leandro A. Mena, Angelica Geter, Richard A. Crosby

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Participants at a sexual health clinic completed a survey with questions regarding sexual risk behavior and partner characteristics. Of 585 participants eligible for analysis, 124 reported generally having older male partners. These participants were significantly more likely to be HIV-infected (p < 0.001), have four or more sex partners as a “bottom” (p = 0.04), have concurrent partners (p = 0.01), and have partners suspected of having an sexually transmitted infection (p = 0.05) than participants without older partners. With analysis restricted to HIV− individuals, risk behaviors did not differ significantly between the groups. HIV− individuals with older partners may be at increased risk of HIV infection due …

An Interactive, Mobile-Based Tool For Personal Social Network Data Collection And Visualization Among A Geographically Isolated And Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Population: Early-Stage Feasibility Study With Qualitative User Feedback, Katherine S. Eddens, Jesse M. Fagan, Tom Collins

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Background: Personal social networks have a profound impact on our health, yet collecting personal network data for use in health communication, behavior change, or translation and dissemination interventions has proved challenging. Recent advances in social network data collection software have reduced the burden of network studies on researchers and respondents alike, yet little testing has occurred to discover whether these methods are: (1) acceptable to a variety of target populations, including those who may have limited experience with technology or limited literacy; and (2) practical in the field, specifically in areas that are geographically and technologically disconnected, such as rural …

Contextual Factors And Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Young, Black Men, Jamal Jones, Laura F. Salazar, Richard A. Crosby

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Young Black men (YBM), aged 13 to 24 years, face a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STI acquisition among YBM is due to incorrect and inconsistent condom use and is exacerbated by multiple sexual partners. Sexual and reproductive health is influenced by a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social determinants that contribute to increased risk for STI acquisition. However, there are key social determinants of sexual health that play a major role in adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors: gender norms, environment, peers, and families as well as a desire to impregnate a woman. Associations between contextual factors (risky …

Exploring Individual And Structural Factors Associated With Employment Among Young Transgender Women Of Color Using A No-Cost Transgender Legal Resource Center, Brandon J. Hill, Kris Rosentel, Trevor Bak, Michael Silverman, Richard A. Crosby, Laura Salazar, Michele Kipke

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore individual and structural factors associated with employment among young transgender women (TW) of color.

Methods: Sixty-five trans women of color were recruited from the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund to complete a 30-min interviewer-assisted survey assessing sociodemographics, housing, workplace discrimination, job-seeking self-efficacy, self-esteem, perceived public passability, and transactional sex work.

Results: Logistic regression models revealed that stable housing (structural factor) and job-seeking self-efficacy (individual factor) were significantly associated with currently being employed.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the need for multilevel approaches to assist TW of color gain employment.

Promoting Teen Contraceptive Use By Intervention With Their Mothers, Richard A. Crosby, Tom Collins, Lindsay R. Stradtman

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Introduction: The purpose of this pilot study was to test a community outreach model designed to help mothers in a rural, medically underserved area navigate their teen daughters to health department services for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) or alternative contraception.

Methods: The pilot study used a single-group, post-test only design. Mothers of teen daughters (N=142) received a 1-hour, one-to-one intervention session (in outreach settings) from Community Liaisons. Mothers received training on how to communicate with their daughters about LARC and other contraceptive methods. Data were collected from June through October 2014, and analyzed in September 2015.

Results: The authors re-contacted …

Dealing With Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis-Associated Condom Migration: Changing The Paradigm For Men Who Have Sex With Men, Richard A. Crosby

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

The behavioural aspects of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are challenging, particularly the issue of condom migration. Three vital questions are: (1) at the population-level, will condom migration lead to increases in non-viral sexually transmissible infections?; (2) how can clinic-based counselling best promote the dual use of condoms and PrEP?; and (3) in future PrEP trials, what are the ‘best practices’ that should be used to avoid type 1 and type 2 errors that arise without accounting for condom use behaviours? This communication piece addresses each question and suggests the risk of a ‘PrEP only’ focus to widening health disparities.