Publications (6)12.48 Total impact
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Article: A comparison of young women's actual and assigned timing of use of a microbicide surrogate.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined young women's actual timing of use of a microbicide surrogate gel (vaginal moisturiser (VM)) compared with assigned timing conditions. Participants used a VM with coitus during 4-week cycles over a 3-year period in random timing sequences: 1h before coitus, 10 min before coitus and 10 min after coitus. Daily diaries collected information related to coital behaviours, VM use and timing, and participants' and partners' VM assessments. Descriptive and mixed-effects model analyses were conducted. At least three VM timing conditions were completed by 109 women aged 18-22 years old. Of 17?772 diary days collected, coitus was reported on 2128 (1252 with VM use; 59%). Median times between VM application and coitus were: 60 min before coitus (mean=68.2; s.d.=76.9) for the 1-h pre-coital group, 13.5 min before coitus (mean=44.9; s.d.=117.1) for the 10-min pre-coital group and 5 min before coitus (mean=24.5; s.d.=205.1) for the 10-min post-coital group. Women reported that the VM was very easy to use (68%), it was somewhat messy (61%), they were very wet during sex (81%), sex was very good (80%) and their partners liked using the VM (38%). Overall, the VM was rated positively. There was substantial deviation in application time across timing conditions, with significantly greater variability in the post-coital group. These findings contribute to understanding of how VMs are accepted and used, with implications for HIV prevention with microbicides requiring specific application timing.Sexual Health 09/2012; 9(4):299-303. · 1.45 Impact Factor -
Article: Acceptability of the vaginal contraceptive ring among adolescent women.
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ABSTRACT: Although underutilized, the vaginal contraceptive ring has several advantages over other contraceptive methods that could benefit adolescents. We examined factors that may influence willingness to try the vaginal ring including: sexual and contraceptive history, genital comfort, and vaginal ring characteristics. Cross sectional Midwestern adolescent health clinics Adolescent women (N = 200; 14-18 years; 89% African-American) INTERVENTIONS/MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All participants received education about the vaginal ring and viewed pictures demonstrating insertion; they then completed a visual/audio computer-assisted self interview. The primary outcome variable, willingness to try the vaginal ring, was a single Likert-scale item. Over half the participants reported knowledge of the vaginal ring with healthcare providers identified as the most important source of contraceptive information. Comfort with one's genitals, insertion and removal, using alternative methods of insertion, and knowing positive method characteristics were significantly associated with willingness to try the vaginal ring. A decreased willingness to try the vaginal ring was related to concerns of the ring getting lost inside or falling out of the vagina. Willingness to try the ring was associated with positive feelings about genitals (e.g., comfort with appearance, hygiene, function). Thus, to increase willingness to try the vaginal ring among adolescents, providers should make it common practice to discuss basic female reproductive anatomy, raise awareness about female genital health and address concerns about their genitals. Providers can offer alternative insertion techniques (e.g., gloves) to make use more accessible. These strategies may increase vaginal ring use among adolescents.Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology 03/2011; 24(4):204-10. · 0.90 Impact Factor -
Article: A prospective study of the sexual, emotional, and behavioral correlates associated with young women's first and usual coital events.
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ABSTRACT: First coitus is considered a major transitional event imbued with cultural relevance. Research has focused on classifying women as virgins, with primary interest in pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention and less on sexuality. This study prospectively explored young women's sexual interest and love at first and subsequent coitus. Daily diary data were collected during a longitudinal study of young women's sexual health (N = 387; 14-17 years at enrollment). Variables of interest included sexual interest, love, and contraceptive and disease prevention behaviors. Analysis of variance and multinomial logistic regression were utilized. For first coital events, love and sexual interest were reported about "half of the day," with sexual interest significantly higher on the day of first coitus. Condom use was nine times more likely than no method at first compared to later coital events. For subsequent coitus, feeling of being in love was significantly higher compared to first coitus, with average sexual interest and love significantly higher with use of no contraceptive method over condoms. Condoms were associated with higher feelings of being in love, but lower sexual interest compared to hormonal contraception. The results indicated that sexual interest and love are independent components of coital behavior. Yet the results also suggest that young women's first coitus does not fully capture the expected significance of "losing one's virginity." Thus, at first coitus, women can actively engage in protective behaviors and focus on pleasure.Journal of Adolescent Health 07/2010; 47(1):20-5. · 3.33 Impact Factor -
Article: Integration of HIV testing and linkage to care by the Baltimore City Health Department.
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ABSTRACT: An abstract is unavailable. This article is available as HTML full text and PDF.Sexually transmitted diseases 02/2010; 37(2):129-30. · 2.58 Impact Factor -
Article: Research on adolescents and microbicides: a review.
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ABSTRACT: Adolescents are an important target for microbicide research, as they are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections and currently are underrepresented in the microbicide research literature. Furthermore, adolescents are psychosocially and biologically different from adults, and findings from adult research cannot be assumed to apply universally to adolescents. Adolescents, to date have rarely been included in clinical trials and acceptability research for microbicides, in part because their participation requires attention to unique developmental issues, including parental consent and confidentiality. Despite these challenges, adolescents should be included in microbicide clinical research. If adolescents are ultimately expected to use microbicides, it is essential that we understand the developmental, contextual, and relationship variables that may influence use and acceptability. Accordingly, the goal of this paper was to examine the issues affecting the inclusion of adolescents in microbicide clinical research as well as review the existing adolescent-specific microbicide research, which highlights the various factors that may influence use and acceptability. It is hoped that this review can provide guidance for future work with this important, specialized population.Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology 08/2009; 22(5):285-91. · 0.90 Impact Factor -
Article: Vaginal microbicide preferences among midwestern urban adolescent women.
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to assess adolescent women's preferences for specific microbicide characteristics including pregnancy prevention, timing of application, potential for side effects, and whether it targeted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Potential differences in microbicide preferences by adolescent age group and behavioral patterns including engaging in sexual intercourse and use of hormonal contraception were examined, as it was hypothesized that as adolescents progress into adulthood and gain sexual experience their preferences in microbicide characteristics may shift. Adolescent and young women (N = 405, 56.0% African American; 24.0% Euro-American) between the ages of 14 and 20 (mean = 17.0, SD = 1.8) were recruited from urban community-based clinics. Video-Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviews were conducted with the young women, during which they were asked about their preferences regarding the characteristics of hypothetical vaginal microbicides. Conjoint analysis was utilized to determine adolescent women's relative preferences for each microbicide characteristic and intent-to-purchase microbicides based upon a combination of the selected properties. Overall, the results suggest adolescent and young women had an ordered preference for a microbicide with (1) no side effects, (2) pregnancy prevention, (3) postcoital application, and (4) protection against HIV. Age and behavioral group conjoint analyses resulted in the same pattern of preferences as those reported for the entire group. However, women having sex and not using hormonal contraception had a stronger preference for postcoital application. The findings suggest that young women's ratings of microbicides were sensitive to characteristics such as side effects, pregnancy prevention, and timing of application and should be considered in microbicide development. The conjoint analysis approach is useful in understanding microbicide preferences, and should be utilized with other populations to assess preferences for specific microbicide characteristics.Journal of Adolescent Health 11/2008; 43(4):349-56. · 3.33 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2012
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Department of Public Health Education
Greensboro, NC, USA
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2008–2011
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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
- Section of Adolescent Medicine
Indianapolis, IN, USA
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2009–2010
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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, MD, USA
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