Examining the Determinants of Condom Use Among African American College Students Attending Predominantly White Institutions

Examining the Determinants of Condom Use Among African American College Students Attending Predominantly White Institutions

Author: Natasha Aduloju-Ajijola Aduloju-Ajijola

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13:

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African American college students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) are disproportionally at risk for experiencing negative sexual health outcomes. African Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 are disproportionally affected by unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, which are associated with risky sexual behaviors, including sex without a condom. The risks and stress associated with living at the intersection of both African American risk factors and college risk factors may play a role in the sexual behavior of African American college students. The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of condom use among African American undergraduates at predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). This study used the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the factors that contribute to condom use. An added factor the study examined was the relationship between different types of stress and condom use. The relationship between stress, intention to use condoms, and actual condom use was also investigated. The study employed a cross-sectional design and used surveys to collect data on African American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 years old at PWIs. The survey was disseminated through Qualtrics online survey software. The sample of 202 students engaged in a range of sexual behaviors (vaginal, oral, and anal sex) and had inconsistent condom use during these activities. The study found that constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior, namely intentions and attitudes, were independently significant at predicting condom use. However, the interaction between intentions and overall stress was more significant in predicting condom use among African American college students attending PWIs over the past 30 days. The study findings have promising implications for health education practitioners, university stakeholders, and researchers who are interested in reducing sexual health disparities. Coordinated efforts are needed to reduce the risk factors that contribute to unsafe sexual behaviors among college students, especially among those at greater risk such as African American college students at PWIs.


The Association of Ethnic Identity on Sexual Activity Among a Sample of African American Adolescents

The Association of Ethnic Identity on Sexual Activity Among a Sample of African American Adolescents

Author: Angelina Marie Anthony

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13:

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The purpose of this study is to explore ethnic identity as a protective factor against sexual activity among a sample of African American adolescents. The study sample consisted of 1084 African American adolescents who were administered a survey comprised of questions about their health, risk behaviors, and their backgrounds. The variables examined were sexual intercourse, ethnic identity, parent-child communication regarding specific topics, mother-adolescent conflict and negative communication. The study also examined family structure, educational aspirations, attitudes about sex, self-esteem, refusal skills, lifetime substance use, perceived peer lifetime sexual behavior, age and gender. Analyses conducted examined the relationship between sexual activity and the independent variables as well as associations between two nominal variables. Relationships between interval/ratio variables were investigated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess whether the relationship between ethnic identity and lifetime sexual intercourse persisted, controlling for individual, family, and social factors. The findings indicate ethnic identity, and individual, family, and peer factors were related to lifetime sexual intercourse. The effects were stronger for substance use and the influence of peers on sexual behavior. When taking into account the other individual, family, and peer factors, the relationship between ethnic identity and lifetime sexual intercourse was non-significant. Additionally, ethnic identity did not moderate the risk factors explored in this study. Gender differences are clearly delineated in the study with more males having sexual intercourse than females. The results of this study recommend multifaceted interventions that begin as early as elementary school and involve families, schools, communities, and organizations working to promote responsible sexual behavior of adolescents. In addition, the findings of other studies provide support for intervention programs that facilitate the development of ethnic identity, such as youth mentoring programs with a focus on Rites of Passage programs. Interventions should also be developed to include peer groups that are comprised of friends, because of the influence peers have on sexual activity and the engagement in other risk behaviors such as substance use.-- Abstract.


Risky Sexual Behaviors Among African-Americans

Risky Sexual Behaviors Among African-Americans

Author: Ernest H. Johnson

Publisher: Praeger

Published: 1993-02-28

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13:

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The major purpose of this book is to examine the interrelationships among knowledge about the transmission of HIV/AIDS, condom use, drug use, history of sexually transmitted diseases, and other relevant factors that affect African-American males and females who engage in risky sexual behaviors. Another aim is to describe how these factors are differentially related to gender and the perceived susceptibility of being exposed to the AIDS virus and testing positive for AIDS. Data has been gathered from a young adult sample of African-American males and females. Information is presented in a readily accessible manner so the reader can understand the variability of risky sexual behaviors. The author offers factual information to draw conclusions that can be used to develop HIV/AIDS prevention programs specifically tailored for the African-American community. The first chapter provides an introduction, rationale, and overview of the study. Basic information about the prevalence of AIDS among various African-American populations are presented. Then, Johnson describes information about the subjects, measures of sexual behaviors, drug use, attitudes about the use of condoms, knowledge about AIDS, and perceived susceptibility of being exposed to HIV/AIDS. Next, Johnson describes the sexual attitudes and behaviors of African-American males and females who are currently involved with multiple partners and those who have been previously treated for sexually transmitted diseases. He then describes the characteristics of African-Americans with HIV/AIDS. The epilogue summarizes the major findings and presents suggestions for AIDS prevention activities for African-American young adults.


Exploring Factors that Influence African American Female College Students' HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors

Exploring Factors that Influence African American Female College Students' HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors

Author: Nicole Riddle

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13:

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The growing number of HIV infections among young black women is staggering and representative of a domestic, epidemiological crisis. Thus far, there is a paucity of HIV prevention programs whose specific focus encompasses the socio-cultural characteristics of African Americans. To address this shortcoming, a socio-cultural model of risk behavior was developed to examine factors associated with sexual risk behavior among young African American women using a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 51 female undergraduate college students were recruited from the Internet via the website Facebook.com and complete online survey items that included demographics, AIDS knowledge and attitudes, self-efficacy, sexual power, family communications, and sexual behavior. Multivariate linear regression analysis found that relationship power, specifically decision making control in relationship was a significant predictor of safe sex behavior. Furthermore, the multivariate linear regression analysis also demonstrated that peer support for safe sex practices was a significant predictor of condom use for this population of African American, female, college students. In conclusion, it appears that communication among peers and with male partners is the most salient factor in determining engagement in safe sex behavior for this population.


Analyzing the Role of Single Parenting on African American Adolescent Sexual Activity and Condom Use by Gender

Analyzing the Role of Single Parenting on African American Adolescent Sexual Activity and Condom Use by Gender

Author: Mildred A. Edwards

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 73

ISBN-13:

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HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the leading causes of death for African Americans. The African-American rate of HIV/AIDS infection is six times higher than that for Caucasians (CDC, 2006). Not only has an HIV/AIDS impacted African American adult, but African-American youth are also disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS (CDC, HIV/AIDS among Youth: Fact Sheet, 2006). Compared to other youth, new infection rates for African American adolescent HIV incidence have remained steady; not resulting in a decrease despite over twenty years of prevention education and intervention. As the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to devastate the African American community increases in sustainable community prevention interventions that address racial, cultural, age, and gender specific differences are sorely needed. This research study of the Risk Reduction Project examined the role that single parenting plays on the HIV/AIDS sexual behaviors of African American youth residing in a Midwest community. Overall, the results from this study indicate that the theory of reasoned action was effective in predicting sexual behavior, however, gender differences existed. Despite reporting greater levels of sexual activity and condom use, male participant sexual intentions and behaviors were found to be more positively impacted by parent subjective norms than female participants. Female sexual intentions, on the other hand, were negatively impacted by parent subjective norms. For participants residing in single mother households, males were found to be significantly impacted by mother referent subjective norm while females were negatively impacted.


An Examination of the Influence of Mother-child Communication and Maternal Monitoring on Sexual Behavior in African American High School Students

An Examination of the Influence of Mother-child Communication and Maternal Monitoring on Sexual Behavior in African American High School Students

Author: Ludmilla F. Wikkeling-Scott

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13:

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The enjoyment of physical contact and expressions of sexual feelings are normal experiences of adolescent development but have also been related to negative health consequences, with a higher prevalence among African Americans. Research has focused on reducing behaviors such as sexual activity among adolescents to avoid related health consequences but often fail to address the parental factor. A few studies on parental factors have noted that parent-child communication and parental monitoring are important influencers of adolescent sexual behavior. They also noted that mothers are the main communicators on topics of sex while fathers communicate about general topics. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of mother-child communication and maternal monitoring on sexual behavior among African American high school students. Secondary data analysis was conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 424 adolescents between 14 and 17 years of age who participated in the Family Adolescent Risk Behavior and Communication Survey. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and multiple regressions were conducted in order to draw conclusions about the influence of main predictors on outcome variables. The statistical significance for analyses was determined at a level of 0.05 alpha. In this study sample, 209 students had engaged in sexual intercourse, 125 students anticipated sexual intercourse in the next year, and 90 students reported to delay sexual intercourse in the next year. The results from multiple regression analyses showed that when different levels of African American adolescent sexual experience are considered (beyond the traditional sexually active/not sexually active dichotomy), the role of mother-child communication and maternal monitoring are not strong based on the three specific hypotheses that were tested. Results suggested that future studies may benefit from a longitudinal rather than a cross sectional design. The study concluded that the nurturing role of mothers can be greatly enhanced when they learn the appropriate skills to guide their adolescents on the path to adulthood with relevant tools to make healthy decisions.-- Abstract.


The Hidden Epidemic

The Hidden Epidemic

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1997-03-28

Total Pages: 446

ISBN-13: 030917547X

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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.