ABSTRACT
Unwanted sexual incidents on university campuses pose significant public health and safety risks for students. This study explored survivors' perspectives on secondary prevention of campus sexual assault and effective strategies for intervention programs for unwanted sexual incidents in university settings. Twenty-seven student survivors of unwanted sexual experiences participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and a constructionist perspective. The findings were contextualized using the ecological model. Barriers to reporting included concerns about one's story not being believed, personal minimization of the incident, belief that no action will be taken after reporting, confidentiality concerns, and other perceived costs of reporting. Survivors provided valuable insight on potentially effective prevention and intervention strategies to address the problem of unwanted sexual incidents on university campuses. These findings may be useful for prevention and intervention policies and programs in university settings and for providers who assist survivors of unwanted sexual experiences.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: African American adults achieve smaller amounts of weight loss than their white counterparts when exposed to the same intervention and are more likely to regain weight during long-term follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To identify perceived motivators, barriers, and facilitators to weight loss and behavior change among African American adults. METHODS: Two focus groups were conducted between April and May 2015 at an urban community health center in Baltimore City, Maryland. A total of 13 participants took part in the discussions. Eligible participants were obese (BMI 30+) African American adults aged 21-70 who had at least one obesity-related comorbidity. Discussion questions were designed to identify the personal, social, and environmental factors that influence weight loss and behavior change among urban minority populations. RESULTS: Statements were first classified as a motivator, barrier, or facilitator, then divided further as a personal, social, or environmental factor influencing weight loss and behavior change. Among the findings, several novel motivators (reducing or eliminating medication, improving physical intimacy) and barriers (personal transportation, lack of access to scales) emerged that were not previously characterized in the existing literature. CONCLUSIONS: This study was intended to provide preliminary evidence that may be used to guide the development of innovative and culturally relevant weight-loss interventions in the future. Results are applicable to similar urban minority populations.
Subject(s)
Black or African American/psychology , Health Behavior/ethnology , Motivation , Social Determinants of Health/ethnology , Weight Loss/ethnology , Adult , Aged , Baltimore , Female , Focus Groups , Health Status Disparities , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Qualitative Research , Social Support , Urban Health/ethnologyABSTRACT
Acinetobacter baumannii has quickly become one of the most insidious and prevalent nosocomial infections. Recently, the reverse-amide class of 2-aminoimidazole compounds (RA-2AI) was found both to prevent A. baumannii biofilm formation and also to disperse preexisting formations, putatively through interactions with cytosolic response regulators. Here we focus on how this class of antibiofilm agent traverses cellular membranes. Following the discovery of dosage-dependent growth rate changes, the cellular effects of RA-2AI were investigated using a combination of molecular assays and microscopic techniques. It was found that RA-2AI exposure has measureable effects on the bacterial membranes, resulting in a period of increased permeability and visible structural aberrations. Based on these results, we propose a model that describes how the structure of RA-2AI allows it to insert itself into and disrupt the fluidity of the membrane, creating an opportunity for increased molecular permeability.
