The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
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Gender inequity is a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV), although there is little research on this relationship that focuses on youth or males. Using survey data collected from 240 male and 198 female youth aged 15-24 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we explore the association between individual-level support for gender equity and IPV experiences in the past 6 months and describe responses to and motivations for IPV. ⋯ Gender equity is an important predictor of IPV among youth. Examining the gendered context of IPV will be useful in the development of targeted interventions to promote gender equity and healthy relationships and to help reduce IPV among youth.
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Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) are common sexually transmitted infections that disproportionately affect adolescents. Annual screening for CT for sexually active female adolescents is recommended. In 2006, New York City began conducting CT/GC education, screening, and treatment in public high schools. We examine 3-year programmatic outcomes and the relationship between sexual activity, screening, and CT/GC positivity. ⋯ Black, older adolescent females were most likely to screen positive for CT/GC in this population. A large proportion of students who did not answer the sexual activity question chose to screen for CT/GC and screened positive. School screening programs should offer screening to all students regardless of reported sexual activity. Programs should target females and older adolescents.
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Research on partnerships between parents and health care professionals (HCPs) to improve adolescent health is limited. In this study, we have developed an empirically derived framework to guide research in this particular area. ⋯ Interventions that directly strengthen parent-HCP relationships and/or communication, and those that indirectly support parent-HCP partnerships within the context of adolescent health care, should be designed targeting health outcomes.
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To assess support for smoke-free policies in public settings among adolescent smokers and nonsmokers in a pro-smoking culture. ⋯ Three important processes underlying adolescents' support for smoke-free policies not mentioned in previous research were identified. First, social norms of the immediate social environment play a pivotal role in shaping policy support of young people. Second, the effects of smoking status on policy support are significantly moderated by exposure to public smoking. Finally, beliefs about the effects of exposure to secondhand smoke significantly predict young people's support for smoke-free public settings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Spirituality in HIV-infected adolescents and their families: FAmily CEntered (FACE) Advance Care Planning and medication adherence.
To explore the effect of spirituality and religious beliefs on FAmily CEntered (FACE) Advance Care Planning and medication adherence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive adolescents and their surrogate decision-makers. ⋯ Providing family support in a friendly, facilitated environment enhanced spirituality among adolescents. Facilitated family conversations had an especially positive effect on medication adherence and spiritual beliefs among behaviorally infected adolescents.