A longitudinal analysis of sociodemographic and health correlates of sexual health among HIV-infected men in the USA

Sexual Health ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
William L. Jeffries ◽  
Barbara A. Zsembik ◽  
Chuck W. Peek ◽  
Constance R. Uphold

Background: Sexual health among HIV-infected men primarily has been examined in cross-sectional designs. Few have used longitudinal data to measure sexual health change or factors associated with change. Moreover, studies of HIV-infected men disproportionately focus on sexual risk behaviours. The present paper examines temporal changes in sexual health based on measures of sexual activity, erectile function, sex drive, and sex life satisfaction. Methods: Data from a prospective cohort study of HIV-infected men (n = 197) in the USA were used. Sexual health measures were based on self-reported sexual activity, erectile function, sex drive, and sex life satisfaction at 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Transition matrices described 1-year sexual health changes. Logistic regression models determined sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with change. Results: Men reported considerable change in sexual health during the year-long observation interval. Among men who experienced change, younger age, cohabitation, and higher CD4 counts were associated with greater sexual activity over time. Men with more depression symptoms had lower erectile function over time, and higher education and higher income were protective against temporal declines in sex drive and satisfaction. Less disease comorbidity was associated with 1-year improvements in sex life satisfaction. Conclusions: Some men in our sample experienced sexual health change, but stability was common for most. Temporal changes in sexual health varied according to age, cohabitation, education, income, and physical and mental health covariates. The present paper highlights the benefits of longitudinal investigations and multidimensional definitions of sexual health.

Author(s):  
Yoanna Seong ◽  
Subin Park

This study identified factors affecting changes in depression of 64 North Korean refugee youths (NKRYs) aged 13 to 23 years (40 female) using follow-up data over a three-year period. We collected intrapersonal factors (emotional regulation strategies, resilience, quality of life) and external factors (psychological and practical support, family adaptation, and cohesion) to understand the preventative and risk factors affecting changes in depression. The trend of depression symptoms significantly increased, and the proportion of people classified as depressed (cut-off score = 21) increased steadily from 45.3% to 59.4% in the third year. In addition, we conducted a panel regression analysis, which showed that individual internal factors had a statistically significant effect on changes in depression. Specifically, expressive suppression of emotions was shown to increase depression over time. Resilience and life satisfaction were significant factors reducing depression in this study. On the other hand, external factors were not significantly related to changes over time in depression of NKRYs. Interventions for NKRYs at risk of depression are necessary and should include ways to enhance resilience and life satisfaction, and foster ego strength by recognizing emotions and promoting healthy emotional expression.


Author(s):  
João Pedro Ferreira ◽  
Michael Böhm ◽  
Patrick Rossignol ◽  
Faiez Zannad

Abstract Background Pharmacologic anti-hypertensive (HT) treatment reduces cardiovascular risk. However, many patients are non-adherent due to perceived or real concern about sexual-related side-effects. Objectives In a subset of the SPRINT (a randomized trial of intensive versus standard blood-pressure control) trial, we sought to investigate the impact of anti-HT treatment on sexual activities of men and women over time, and whether this impact varied with a more or less intensive anti-HT therapy. Methods Random-effects models for panel/longitudinal data. Results Among the 1268 men and 613 women included in this sub-study, 862 (68%) men and 178 (29%) women declared to be engaged in sexual activity of any kind. Compared with women and men not engaged in sexual activity, those engaged were younger (64 vs. 69yr for women and 65 vs. 75yr for men). Women had an overall low satisfaction with their sexual life but their sexual health was not affected by anti-HT therapy over time nor modified by an intensive treatment. Men’s erections were slightly deteriorated over time (-0.1 to -0.2 points on a scale of 1 (worse) to 5 (best); p<0.05), but were not aggravated by intensive anti-HT therapy (p>0.05 for all). Conclusions Self-declared women`s sexual health was not affected by an intensive anti-HT therapy. Men, reported a slight deterioration in the quality of their erections, irrespective of standard or intensive therapy. These findings may help reassuring patients about the sexual safety of intensive anti-HT therapy, therefore, potentially improving adherence to intensive therapy strategy.


2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056239
Author(s):  
Nicholas J Felicione ◽  
Brian Vincent Fix ◽  
Ann McNeill ◽  
K. Michael Cummings ◽  
Maciej Lukasz Goniewicz ◽  
...  

ObjectivesRegulation of nicotine vaping products (NVPs) varies between countries, impacting the availability and use of these products. This study updated the analyses of O’Connor et al on types of NVPs used and examined changes in NVP features used over 18 months in four countries with differing regulatory environments.DesignData are from 4734 adult current vapers in Australia, Canada, England and the USA from Waves 1 (2016) and 2 (2018) of the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. NVP characteristics included device description, adjustable voltage, nicotine content and tank size. Longitudinal analyses (n=1058) assessed movement towards or away from more complex/modifiable NVPs. A logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with changes in device description from 2016 to 2018.ResultsLike 2016, box-tanks were the most popular NVP (37.3%) in all four countries in 2018. Over 80% of vapers continued using the same NVP and nicotine content between waves, though movement tended towards more complex/modifiable devices (14.4% of vapers). Box-tank users, exclusive daily vapers and older vapers were most likely to continue using the same device description. Certain NVPs and features differed by country, such as higher nicotine contents in the USA (11.5% use 21+ mg/mL) and greater device stability over time in Australia (90.8% stability).ConclusionsMost vapers continued using the same vaping device and features over 18 months. Differences in NVP types and features were observed between countries, suggesting that differing NVP regulations affect consumer choices regarding the type of vaping device to use.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veljko Jovanović

Abstract. The present research aimed at examining measurement invariance of the Serbian version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) across age, gender, and time. A total sample in Study 1 consisted of 2,595 participants from Serbia, with a mean age of 23.79 years (age range: 14–55 years). The final sample in Study 2 included 333 Serbian undergraduate students ( Mage = 20.81; age range: 20–27 years), who completed the SWLS over periods of 6 and 18 months after the initial assessment. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the modified unidimensional model of the SWLS, with correlated residuals of items 4 and 5 tapping past satisfaction. The results of the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the full scalar invariance across gender and over time and partial scalar invariance across age. Latent mean comparisons revealed that women reported higher life satisfaction than men. Additionally, adolescents reported higher life satisfaction than students and adults, with adults showing the lowest life satisfaction. Our findings indicate that the SWLS allows meaningful comparisons in life satisfaction across age, gender, and over time.


Author(s):  
Qian Hui Chew ◽  
Yvonne Steinert ◽  
Kang Sim

Abstract Introduction Conceptual frameworks for professional identity (PI) formation highlight the importance of developmental stages and socialization as the learner progresses from legitimate peripheral to full participation. Based on extant literature and clinical impressions, the authors aimed to explore factors associated with PI formation in psychiatry residents over time, and hypothesized that time in training, seniority status, and duration of exposure to psychiatry prior to residency would be associated with PI formation. Methods Eighty out of 96 psychiatry residents (response rate, 83.3%) from the National Psychiatry Residency Program in Singapore participated and rated their PI development using the Professional Self Identity Questionnaire (PSIQ) across four timepoints from January 2016–December 2019. The residents were classified as junior (first 3 years) or senior residents (years 4–5). Linear mixed model analyses were conducted, with time in training, seniority status (junior versus senior residents), duration of psychiatry postings prior to residency, and their interaction as associated factors with PI over time. Results Time in training, seniority, and duration of psychiatry postings before residency (all p < 0.01) were significantly associated with higher PSIQ scores at baseline. Over time, although all residents had increases in PSIQ scores, this rate of change did not differ significantly between junior and senior residents. Discussion Exposure to psychiatry postings before residency, time in learning, and seniority are factors which influence PI development in residents. This has implications for psychiatry residency selection and training, adequate clinical exposure during training rotations, and continual support for new and senior residents to foster PI formation over time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
Ben R. Evans ◽  
Iris Möller ◽  
Tom Spencer

Salt marshes are important coastal environments and provide multiple benefits to society. They are considered to be declining in extent globally, including on the UK east coast. The dynamics and characteristics of interior parts of salt marsh systems are spatially variable and can fundamentally affect biotic distributions and the way in which the landscape delivers ecosystem services. It is therefore important to understand, and be able to predict, how these landscape configurations may evolve over time and where the greatest dynamism will occur. This study estimates morphodynamic changes in salt marsh areas for a regional domain over a multi-decadal timescale. We demonstrate at a landscape scale that relationships exist between the topology and morphology of a salt marsh and changes in its condition over time. We present an inherently scalable satellite-derived measure of change in marsh platform integrity that allows the monitoring of changes in marsh condition. We then demonstrate that easily derived geospatial and morphometric parameters can be used to determine the probability of marsh degradation. We draw comparisons with previous work conducted on the east coast of the USA, finding differences in marsh responses according to their position within the wider coastal system between the two regions, but relatively consistent in relation to the within-marsh situation. We describe the sub-pixel-scale marsh morphometry using a morphological segmentation algorithm applied to 25 cm-resolution maps of vegetated marsh surface. We also find strong relationships between morphometric indices and change in marsh platform integrity which allow for the inference of past dynamism but also suggest that current morphology may be predictive of future change. We thus provide insight into the factors governing marsh degradation that will assist the anticipation of adverse changes to the attributes and functions of these critical coastal environments and inform ongoing ecogeomorphic modelling developments.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Kebogile Elizabeth Mokwena ◽  
Nontokozo Lilian Mbatha

Background: Mothers living with HIV are at risk for mental health problems, which may have a negative impact on the management of their HIV condition and care of their children. Although South Africa has a high prevalence of HIV, there is a dearth of studies on sociodemographic predictors of postnatal depression (PND) among HIV-positive women in South Africa, even in KwaZulu Natal, a province with the highest prevalence of HIV in the country. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine sociodemographic factors associated with the prevalence of postnatal depression symptoms among a sample of HIV-positive women attending health services from primary healthcare facilities in Umhlathuze District, KwaZulu Natal. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 386 HIV-positive women who had infants aged between 1 and 12 weeks. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPNDS), to which sociodemographic questions were added, was used to collect data. Results: The prevalence of PND symptoms among this sample of 386 HIV-positive women was 42.5%. The age of the mothers ranged from 16 to 42 years, with a mean of 29 years. The majority of the mothers were single or never married (85.5%; n = 330), living in a rural setting (81.9%; n = 316%), with a household income of less than R 2000 (estimated 125 USD) per month (64.9%; n = 120). The government child support grant was the main source of income for most of the mothers (53%; n = 183). PND symptoms were significantly associated with the participant’s partner having other sexual partners (p-value < 0.001), adverse life events (p-value = 0.001), low monthly income (p-value = 0.015), and being financially dependent on others (p-value = 0.023). Conclusion: The prevalence of PND symptoms among the sample is high, with a number of social and demographic factors found to be significantly associated with PND. This requires the consideration of sociodemographic information in the overall management of both HIV and postnatal depression. Addressing the impact of these factors can positively influence the health outcomes of both the mother and the baby.


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