Falls of elderly rural home health clients.

This study examined factors related to falls among elderly home health clients living in rural southern Illinois. Forty-five clients who fell were demographically matched with 45 controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that previous falls, frailty, physical inactivity, balance problems, absence of handrails, and uneven floors were related to a fall in this sample. Medications commonly taken by clients were not found to be related to a fall, whereas environmental factors appeared to contribute to a fall. Elderly home health clients need information and support services to recognize risk of falling and encourage preventive measures such as physical therapy and environmental modifications.

A secondary analysis of smoking among rural and urban youth using the MTF data set.

This paper compares rural and urban youth cigarette-smoking behavior using the Monitoring the Future data set, a national, probability-based, multi-stage sample design. Cigarette smoking was examined by region, race, and gender over time. Results indicated that rural White males smoked more often (30-day prevalence of 34%) than any other group. Urban Black males smoked the least (10%). Urban White females smoked more (30-day prevalence of 33%) than urban Black females (7%). In general, rural and urban Whites reported smoking at significantly higher rates than rural and urban Blacks. Smoking rates declined steadily for both rural and urban Black females and urban Black males over the study period. These data document distinctive patterns of tobacco use among the nation's youth, which can be used by program planners for specific targeted interventions.

A retrospective study of first sexual intercourse experiences among undergraduates.

Survey data concerning the first sexual intercourse (FSI) experiences of 272 undergraduate students revealed that 6% had experienced FSI against their personal wills (victims); 1% had experienced FSI against the will of the other person (offenders); 81% had experienced FSI at the will of both participants (consenting); and 11% were virgins (does not add up to 100% because of rounding). Examination of the students' perceptions of the various factors contributing to nonconsensual sexual intercourse (NSI) showed that fewer than 50% of the students agreed that situational and psychological factors contribute to NSI. Results also indicated that being a woman and perceptions about the factors that reduce victims' resistance were significant predictors of who would be the victim of FSI. Religious background, the reasons for having a date, and perceptions regarding the factors that enhance motivation to have NSI were significant predictors of FSI offenders. Personal risk behaviors were the strongest predictors of students who experienced FSI at the will of both participants, and risk factors were inversely related to being a virgin.

Comprehensive prenatal care for pregnant teens.

Comprehensive teen-age pregnancy programs have endeavored to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. Positive results have been reported, but significant findings have been elusive. This article describes a rural program and compares the pregnancy outcomes of 60 matched nonparticipants. The study determined a relationship existed between participation in the program and maternal complications, birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, and perinatal morbidity. Participants were matched perfectly on socioeconomic status and age, and near-perfectly on year of delivery. Subjects also were matched on ethnicity, marital status, and residence. Participation and fewer maternal complications of anemia, infections, and eclampsia were significantly related. Remaining dependent variables were not significantly related, but low birth weight (six vs. 11) and prematurity (six vs. nine) were lower for participants. Suggestions for researchers of teen pregnancy programs are included.

OCTOPUS--a church-based sex education program for teens and parents.

OCTOPUS is the acronym for a rural, church-based sex education program for teens and parents. The tentacles symbolize the agencies and individuals involved in this multi-faceted community outreach program designed to promote "Open Communication Regarding Teenagers Or Parents Understanding of Sexuality." Its purpose was to establish a forum for family discussion within a church setting to enhance communication skills, convey factual information, and cultivate the development of a decision-making process to help parents help their teenagers acquire appropriate morals and values. The OCTOPUS program was a team effort comprised of nurses, health educators, and counselors with experience serving adolescents, ministers who sought to integrate religious views with sex education, and church and community members interested in improving dialogue between parents and teenagers about sexuality. The team developed a comprehensive yet flexible program that could be modified to meet each church's preferences. Generally, the topics were arranged into four two-hour sessions. Presentation methods included a combination of lectures, films, and pamphlets. Large and small group discussions were used for clarification and communication skills development. While the results of this program were not quantifiable, feedback from four churches and one-hundred participants has been highly favorable.

PIP: OCTOPUS is the acronym for a rural, church-based sex education program for teens and parents. The tentacles symbolize the agencies involved in this multi-faceted community outreach program designed to promote "Open Communication Regarding Teenagers Or Parents Understanding of Sexuality." Its purpose was to establish a forum for family discussion within a church setting to enhance communication skills, convey factual information, and cultivate the development of a decision making process to help parents help their teenagers acquire appropriate morals and values. The OCTOPUS program was a team effort using 1) nurses, health educators, and counselors with experience serving adolescents, 2) ministers who wanted to integrate religious views with sex education, and 3) church and community members interested in improving communication about sex between parents and teenagers. The team developed a comprehensive but flexible program that could be modified for each church. Generally, four two-hour sessions covered love and relationships, being an adolescent, decision making, reproduction and pregnancy, birth control and sexually transmitted diseases, the church's view, communication skills, and community resources. Presentation methods combined lectures, films, and pamphlets. Large and small group discussions were used for clarification and communication skills development. While the results of this program were not quantifiable, feedback from four churches and 100 participants has been highly favorable.