Enhancing the health knowledge and health literacy of recently resettled refugees through classroom-based instructional methods.

Health education can elevate health literacy, which is associated with health knowledge, health-seeking behaviors and overall improved health outcomes. Refugees are particularly vulnerable to the effects of low health knowledge and literacy, which can exacerbate already poor health stemming from their displacement experience. Traditional learning methods including classroom-based instruction are typically how health-related information is presented to refugees. Through a series of interactive classes focused on specific health topics relevant to the resettled refugee population, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a classroom-based health education model in enhancing the health knowledge of recently resettled refugees. We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate differences in pre- and post-class knowledge through test performance. We found a significant improvement in health knowledge in two refugee groups: females and those who were employed. Culturally and socially sensitive considerations including language inclusiveness, class timing, transportation and childcare provisions are important when creating an educational program for individuals with refugee backgrounds. Developing focused approaches to instruction that enhance health knowledge could lead to better health literacy and ultimately improve health-related behaviors and outcomes in the refugee population.

Exploring the determinants of successful implementation of a preventive mental health and wellness intervention for Afghan refugee families: a qualitative analysis.

Many refugee children experience trauma in early childhood. Effective, tailored interventions are needed to improve refugee children's access to preventive mental health. We interviewed refugee-serving stakeholders and parents participating in an evidence-based preventive mental health and wellness intervention adapted for Afghan refugee children and families who may have experienced trauma. Interview guide development was informed by two implementation science frameworks: the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Model for Adaptation Design and Impact. A three-person team coded transcripts via rapid qualitative analysis, and the study team reached consensus on themes. Six refugee-serving facilitators and five refugee parents discussed key determinants of successful implementation. Themes included: (i) modeling cultural humility to promote communication about emotions; (ii) needed linguistic support and referral networks to avoid miscommunications and missed communications; (iii) bridging connections between children, families and schools; (iv) different takeaways, or differing goals and expectations between facilitators and participants; and (v) timely, specific cultural considerations to overcome participation barriers. Overall, we found key determinants of successful implementation of a preventive mental health and wellness intervention for refugee children and families included adaptations to enhance cultural humility and sensitivity to cultural context while strengthening communication among facilitators, children and families.

Differences in the Prevalence of Adolescent Sexual Identity: Results of Expanding Survey Response Options.

PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of sexual identity by grade, racial and ethnic identities, and sex assigned at birth. METHODS: Data came from the statewide 2022 Minnesota Student Survey of eighth, ninth, and 11th grade students (N = 99,688). Chi-square tests compared the prevalence of sexual identity across grades, racial/ethnic groups, and sex assigned at birth. RESULTS: Over a fifth (22.2%) of students self-reported a minoritized sexual identity. Bisexual and pansexual were most common among Native+ (12.3%, 5.7%, respectively), multiracial (11.6%, 4.4%, respectively), and Latina/x/o (10.4%, 4.1%, respectively) youth. Asexuality was consistently reported across grades, and eighth graders reported gay/lesbian, bisexual, and queer identities less than 11th graders. Youth assigned female at birth were more likely to report gay/lesbian, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, queer, and questioning than youth assigned male at birth. DISCUSSION: Results support the continued use of further expanded sexual identities in epidemiologic surveys.

Bias-based bullying, self-esteem, queer identity pride, and disordered eating behaviors among sexually and gender diverse adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Limited research incorporates an intersectional approach when evaluating disordered eating behaviors among those holding minoritized social positions, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, questioning, and/or transgender/gender diverse (LGBTQ) adolescents. The current study assessed stigma experiences from peers at school, self-esteem, LGBTQ pride, and overlapping social positions as they relate to disordered eating behaviors among LGBTQ adolescents. METHOD: Participants included 11,083 adolescents (Mage = 15.6, SD = 1.3; 34.8% transgender/gender diverse) from a large national survey study of LGBTQ adolescents from 2017. Exhaustive Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detection analysis was used to identify bias-based bullying experiences (i.e., weight-based, identity-based), self-esteem, LGBTQ pride, and overlapping social positions (i.e., gender identity, sexual identity, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI) percentile) associated with the highest prevalence of unhealthy weight control behaviors, extreme unhealthy weight control behaviors, and past year binge eating. RESULTS: Adolescents in the 28 identified groups with a high prevalence of disordered eating behavior held at least one structurally marginalized social position (e.g., high BMI), bias-based bullying experience, low self-esteem, or low LGBTQ pride in addition to being LGBTQ. Weight-based bullying was a salient risk-factor for disordered eating across social positions. Among adolescents with the same social positions, levels of self-esteem, LGBTQ pride, but no bias-based bullying experience, prevalence estimates of disordered eating were, on average, 23% lower. DISCUSSION: LGBTQ adolescents with multiple marginalized social positions and related factors engage in disproportionately high prevalence disordered eating. Findings underscore the importance of addressing intersecting experiences of stigma to reduce disordered eating and promote health equity among adolescents. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Multiply marginalized LGBTQ adolescents, most of whom also reported experiencing bias-based bullying from peers at school, reported disproportionately high prevalence disordered eating. In comparison groups of adolescents with no bias-based bullying experience, prevalence of disordered eating was, on average, 24% lower. Findings underscore the importance of addressing intersecting experiences of stigma to reduce disordered eating and promote health equity among adolescents.

The Provision of Abortion Care via Telehealth in the United States: A Rapid Review.

INTRODUCTION: The recent Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health that has overruled Roe v. Wade has resulted in severe limitations of abortion access throughout the United States. Telehealth has been put forth as one solution for improving access for reproductive health care, including abortion services. Telehealth has demonstrated safety and efficacy in several health care disciplines; however, its use for abortion care and services has not been explored and synthesized. METHODS: As part of a larger review on telehealth and general reproductive health, our team identified a moderate amount of literature on telehealth and abortion care. We conducted a rapid review searching for eligible studies in MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL. Information was extracted from each included study to explore 4 key areas of inquiry: (1) clinical effectiveness, (2) patient and provider experiences, (3) barriers and facilitators, and (4) the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies on the use of telehealth for providing abortion services published between 2011 and 2022 were included. Telehealth for medical abortion increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and was found to be safe and clinically effective, with high patient satisfaction. Overall, telehealth improved access and removed barriers for patients including lack of transportation. Legal restrictions in certain states were cited as the primary barriers. Studies contained limited information on the perspectives and experiences of health care providers and diverse patient populations. DISCUSSION: Abortion care via telehealth is safe and effective with high satisfaction and may also remove barriers to care including transportation and fear. Removing restrictions on telehealth for the provision of abortion services may further improve access to care and promote greater health equity.

School Nurses and Chronic Absenteeism in Schools: A Qualitative Study on Experiences, Perspectives, and Roles.

Regular attendance is integral for students' academic success; it also affects adolescents' physical and mental health. Very few studies consider (a) differences between partial- and full-day absences regarding chronic absenteeism (CA; missing school ≥15 days in an academic year); or (b) roles of school nurses in addressing student absenteeism. This study describes school nurses' perceptions of factors related to CA and differences between partial- and full-day absences by analyzing qualitative data from six focus groups with 21 Midwestern school nurses. Four themes emerged: Absenteeism at the intersection of family and health; Absenteeism at the intersection of family and school; Absenteeism at the intersection of family and ecological systems; and School nurse roles in supporting chronically absent students. Findings highlight the importance of school nurses by describing their role in identifying students who are at risk for CA, allowing for effective assessment and intervention with students before patterns of CA become habitual.

Sport and Physical Activity Among Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Questioning Adolescents.

PURPOSE: We compared rates of sport and physical activity (PA) of transgender and gender diverse adolescents and adolescents questioning their gender (TGDQ) with those of cisgender adolescents. Additionally, we tested for differences in sport and PA among TGDQ youth. METHODS: We used 2019 Minnesota Student Survey data (N = 125,375). We calculated descriptive statistics, then used chi-squares and one-way analyses of variance to test for differences in involvement in sports, PA lessons, and PA between TGDQ and cisgender adolescents. Then, we used the same tests to compare participation among all TGDQ adolescents, considering their gender identity and sex assigned at birth. RESULTS: Overall, TGDQ adolescents participated in sport and PA less than cisgender adolescents; TGD youth participated less than questioning youth. Within sex assigned at birth, participation varied by gender identity. DISCUSSION: TGDQ adolescents need support to participate in sport and PA. Adults should remain cognizant that sport restrictions could impair TGDQ adolescents' health.

Diverse Sexual and Gender Identity, Bullying, and Depression Among Adolescents.

Surveillance data indicate youth have many sexual and gender identities that should be included in clinical forms and surveys to document and improve health equity.

Mental Health and Protective Factors for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youths Who Trade Sex: A Minnesota Statewide School-Based Study, 2019.

Objectives. To describe the prevalence of sex trading by gender and by associations with mental health concerns and protective factors. Methods. We used data from 9th and 11th graders who completed the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey. The analytic sample (n = 67 806) included transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youths and cisgender youths who reported trading sex. Data on 7 mental health measures and 4 school-related and health care-related protective factors were collected. Results. The prevalence of sex trading (5.9%) was 5 times higher among TGD students than cisgender students (1.2%). In addition, the prevalence of all mental health concerns was high among TGD students who traded sex (e.g., 75.9% reported a lifetime suicide attempt, as compared with 45.9% of cisgender students who traded sex). Fewer statistical differences were found across protective factors. When TGD students who traded sex were compared according to sex assigned at birth, no statistically significant differences were found. Conclusions. Our findings support strong calls for increased competence regarding gender and sex trading or exploitation in clinical and school-based settings to decrease health disparities among TGD youths. Public Health Implications. In this study, we have presented unique prevalence estimates of mental health disparities among TGD students in the United States who trade sex. Our results indicate that TGD students who trade sex are at risk for mental health symptoms and that sensitivity to both gender and sex trading or exploitation will be critical to meeting the needs of this group in clinical as well as school-based settings.

Recently-Arrived Afghan Refugee Parents' Perspectives About Parenting, Education and Pediatric Medical and Mental Health Care Services.

Refugee children are at risk for mental/behavioral health problems but may not receive timely diagnosis or care. Parental experiences and perspectives about resources in the US may help guide interventions to improve mental/behavioral health care. In a community-academic partnership, we performed a qualitative study of recently-arrived Afghan refugee parents, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews to characterize experiences with parenting, education, and health care services. A four-person coding team identified, described, and refined themes. We interviewed 19 parents from ten families, with a median residence in the US of 24 months. Four themes emerged; parents described: (1) shifting focus as safety needs changed, (2) acculturation stress, (3) adjustment to an emerging US support system, and (4) appreciation of an engaged health care system. Health and educational providers' appreciation for the process of acculturation among newly-arrived refugee Afghan families may facilitate screening, diagnostic, and intervention strategies to improve care.

School-Based Diversity Education Activities and Bias-Based Bullying Among Secondary School Students.

Bias-based bullying (e.g., bullying related to race, weight, sexual orientation) is a common experience among youth, yet few school-based prevention programs explicitly address this type of bullying. This study explores whether schools that offer diversity education activities have lower rates of bias-based bullying among students compared to schools that do not offer these activities. Data came from two sources: the 2018 CDC School Profiles Survey (N = 216 schools) and the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 64,510 students). Multilevel logistic regression tested associations between diversity education activities (diversity clubs, lessons, or special events) and eight types of bias-based bullying among students, with attention to effect modification by relevant demographic characteristics. Students attending schools that offer a wider variety of diversity education opportunities had significantly lower odds of bullying about race, ethnicity, or national origin among boys of color (OR = 0.89, CI: 0.80, 1.00), about sexual orientation for gay, bisexual, and questioning boys (OR = 0.81, CI: 0.67, 0.97), and about disability for boys with a physical health problem (OR = 0.86, CI: 0.76, 0.99). Attending a school with more types of diversity education activities may protect vulnerable students against specific types of bias-based bullying and advance health equity. A diversity education is recommended as a key component of antibullying efforts and policy.

Family Relationships and the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth: A Critical Review.

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth experience significant health and well-being disparities compared to their cisgender peers. However, disparities experienced at a population level might be mitigated by individual-level factors such as strong family relationships. Discrete aspects of strong family relationships may impact the health and well-being of TGD youth differently. To date, no systematic review known to us has explored the state of the science regarding the association between family relationships and the health and well-being of TGD adolescents and young adults. As such, our review aimed to (1) compile and present the scientific literature addressing the connection between family relationships and the health and well-being of TGD youth in those families; (2) sort results utilizing the Family Strengths Model; and (3) assess the strength of the literature with evidence-based appraisal tools. Sixteen articles met eligibility criteria (10 quantitative and 6 qualitative). These articles discussed family relationship qualities influencing health and well-being outcomes, including mental health, homelessness, sexual health, and substance use. Three of six qualities of strong families-coping ability, appreciation and affection, and positive communication-were represented in the literature. The risk for bias and study strength appraisals suggest that the available literature is moderately strong overall. Certain characteristics of strong families (commitment, enjoyable time spent together, and spiritual well-being) were underrepresented in the literature. Future research should explore these gaps to ensure that health care and community service providers can deliver the most effective support and care for TGD youth and their families.

Parents Matter: Associations Between Parent Connectedness and Sexual Health Indicators Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adolescents.

CONTEXT: Transgender and gender-diverse youth experience significant health disparities across numerous domains of health, including sexual health. Among general populations, parent connectedness has been strongly associated with youth sexual health. METHODS: The relationships between parent connectedness and sexual health indicators were investigated among 2,168 transgender and gender-diverse youth who participated in the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey, a statewide population-based survey of ninth- and 11th-grade students. Multivariate logistic regression models, stratified by sex assigned at birth, tested associations between parent connectedness-youth's perceptions of parent caring and parent-youth communication-and eight sexual health indicators: ever having had sex, having multiple sexual partners in the past year, pregnancy involvement, substance use at last sex, partner communication about STI prevention, partner communication about pregnancy prevention, condom use at last sex and pregnancy prevention methods at last sex. RESULTS: The level of parent connectedness was inversely associated with ever having had sex, regardless of sex assigned at birth (odds ratios, 0.6-0.8). Although level of connectedness was inversely associated with having multiple sexual partners in the past year and pregnancy involvement among transgender and gender-diverse youth assigned male at birth (0.6-0.7), these relationships were nonsignificant among transgender and gender-diverse youth assigned female at birth. Further differences in associations between parent connectedness and four sexual risk-reduction behaviors were found between youth assigned male at birth and those assigned female. CONCLUSIONS: As with other populations, parent connectedness promotes sexual health among transgender and gender-diverse youth and may provide a point of intervention.

"It makes such a difference": An examination of how LGBTQ youth talk about personal gender pronouns.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The World Health Organization has developed standards for youth-friendly health services to support adolescents and encourage health care utilization among youth. Necessary building blocks for youth-friendly care include strong interpersonal relationships between youth and health care providers. Nurse practitioners (NPs) may be particularly well positioned to form these relationships. This study explored a core aspect for building youth-provider relationships. The study examined how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adolescents discussed use of personal pronouns (e.g., he, she, they, ze) in relation to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. METHODS: A secondary qualitative analysis of 66 in-depth interviews with LGBTQ youth from across Minnesota, Massachusetts, and British Columbia, Canada was conducted. Results were sorted into four main themes describing different aspects of personal pronoun use as related to TGD individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Stories and experiences shared by participants illustrate how to assess which pronouns to use for a given person, how to use pronouns in different contexts, why respecting pronouns is important to TGD people, and flexibility as an integral component of the learning process when it comes to appropriate pronoun use. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding how youth discuss personal pronouns could improve practice with TGD youth. Each of the four themes can be applied to clinical encounters to ensure culturally sensitive care. Practice recommendations include asking adolescents what pronouns they prefer clinic staff to use on intake forms and having NPs and clinic staff provide their own pronouns to patients in introductions.

Perceptions of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Minority Adolescents About Labels.

Young peoples' acceptance and use of nontraditional, descriptive identity labels (e.g., pansexual, genderqueer) require nurses to consider moving beyond use of traditional terms (e.g., gay, transgender). This mixed methods study explores (a) labels used by sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minority youth, (b) their expressed importance and meaning of these labels, and (c) differences in label usage. Sixty-six SOGI minority adolescents in British Columbia, Minnesota, and Massachusetts (mean age = 16.6) participated in "go-along" interviews; during interviews, 42 (63.6%) commented on labels. Chi-square and t tests were used to compare traditional versus nontraditional labels across participant demographic categories. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify representative themes. Approximately, 1/3 of participants used nontraditional sexual orientation identity labels; this finding was associated with a trans identity and nontraditional gender labels. Using terminology that is meaningful and representative to the youth themselves has potential to facilitate representative research and welcoming environments in practice.

Perspectives From Nurses and Physicians on Training Needs and Comfort Working With Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses and physicians receive minimal training about providing competent care to transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) patients, and training specific to TGD youth is particularly lacking. This qualitative study examined health care providers' experiences and attitudes about working with TGD youth to identify specific training needs. METHOD: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 nurses and physicians who work with adolescents. Thematic analysis was used to characterize participants' responses. RESULTS: Five themes summarized participants' responses to interview questions: Training Regarding Gender Diversity, Discomfort With Gender-Related Topics, Reasons for Not Asking About Gender, Talking About Gender With Patients, and Need for Resources. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight multiple opportunities to improve provider education and care experiences of TGD youth. Specific training is needed to help providers manage discomfort with gender-related topics and simultaneously develop their knowledge of and skills for discussing gender issues.