Contraceptive self-efficacy in adolescents: a comparative study of male and female contraceptive practices.

PIP: This comparative study examined the relationship between self-efficacy theory and contraceptive practices in male and female adolescents enrolled in Midwestern University. A survey method was employed to obtain data from 101 female and 106 male subjects aged 18-20, sexually active, single, and who had one sexual partner for at least 3 months. Findings suggest that both genders need to develop the necessary communication skills in sexual matters and contraceptive issues. Females scored low on several self-efficacy statements that involve the ability to communicate about sexual matters and securing the use of contraception. They also obtained a low score in statements that require assertiveness in preventing sexual intercourse in highly involved situations. Meanwhile, male subjects scored low in items involving communication skills. Finally, contraceptive self-efficacy was found to be significantly different for males and females in the following areas: females need to learn how to assume responsibility and to become more effective in securing contraceptives; and males need to learn to be assertive about avoiding sexual intercourse when not using contraception and to develop the ability to talk about using contraceptives.^ieng

Elevation of glutathione levels by phase II enzyme inducers: lack of inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in chronically infected monocytoid cells.

Supplementation of media with high concentrations of thiols (5-20 mM) inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in vitro. Compounds that prevent carcinogenesis via induction of phase II enzymes also elevate intracellular GSH levels, thus raising the possibility that chemopreventive enzyme inducers may represent a more pharmacologically feasible method to inhibit viral replication. Previous studies revealed that oltipraz [5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiole-3-thione] was the only GSH inducer tested that could inhibit HIV-1 replication in acutely infected H9 cells. Because thiols are proposed to suppress transcription of the integrated HIV-1 genome by preventing the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B, experiments evaluating inducers of GSH levels in acutely infected H9 cells do not rule out the ability of these compounds to inhibit viral replication in chronically infected cells exposed to cytokines or mitogens. Therefore, we determined the antiviral effects of several inducers in phorbol-12-myristate-13- acetate-stimulated U1 cells, a monocytoid cell line that contains two integrated copies of the HIV-1 genome. Although 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, dimethyl fumarate, and oltipraz can elevate cytosolic thiol levels, only oltipraz inhibited HIV-1 replication. Moreover, decreased nuclear factor-kappa B binding activity could be correlated with increases in cytosolic thiols produced by various treatments (r2 = 0.8) but not with suppression of viral replication (r2 = 0.01). These data suggest that oltipraz-induced increases in GSH are not responsible for the antiviral action of oltipraz and that elevation of intracellular GSH levels by chemopreventive enzyme inducers does not inhibit viral replication.

Self-efficacy and AIDS prevention for pregnant teens.

AIDS education, the only immediate solution to containment of AIDS, encourages active risk reduction among high-risk populations. Self-efficacy is a construct that can measure the likelihood preventive behaviors will be performed, and thus could be applied to identify specific areas where AIDS education should be augmented. In this study, pregnant, mostly black, teens (N = 58) attending an alternative school in a large, midwestern city completed a self-efficacy scale to identify self-perceived areas of vulnerability to participating in preventive behaviors and avoiding high-risk behaviors concerning AIDS. The AIDS Self-efficacy Scale identified four areas of greatest vulnerability: using condoms, discussing previous homosexual activity, discussing previous bisexual activity, and telling a partner about an experience with a bisexual. The last three situations result from an inability to discuss a partner's past sexual history, indicating a need to be very specific in these areas. School health interventions should recognize and deal with issues sexually active teens have identified as most difficult, particularly specific aspects of sexual histories, and provide these adolescents with prevention skills necessary to reduce high-risk behaviors.

An evaluation of a preschool dental health program.

The ADA Preschool Curriculum provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate dental health education as it relates to very young children. Data were collected at four schools. Overwhelmingly, parents believed the program to be very valuable.

Self-efficacy as a predictor of smoking behavior in young adolescents.

This study sought to develop a self-efficacy scale to predict smoking behavior and diagnose the most vulnerable factors associated with its onset. A sample of 800 seventh and eighth grade students received the survey on three separate occasions over an 8-month period. The instrument was comprised of 50 self-efficacy items, including social and emotional variables, and a self-report of smoking behavior. The data revealed an association between the total self-efficacy score and reported smoking behavior, implying the predictive capacity of the instrument. Factor analysis indicated several recurring item groups: social opportunities to smoke, emotional stress, and peer influences. Discriminant analysis of the subscales provided significant prediction of smoking behavior. Onset smoking behavior was also predictable over 3- and 5-month intervals. Peer influence persisted as the primary determinant of smoking activity. To confirm these results and ascertain the generalizability of this instrument, it is recommended that it be administered in other communities, and in conjunction with biochemical analysis to validate the self-reported smoking behavior. The instrument has potential application as a predictor of smoking behavior, to permit the design of more appropriate prevention programs, and as an effective evaluation measure for such interventions.

Preventive dental behavior in families: a national survey.

The results of the 1980 survey showed that a majority of white American family members adhered to a strict toothbrushing schedule. The popular times of brushing were before bedtime, after breakfast, and on arising. This pattern of preferred brushing times was similar to that in the 1966 and 1974 surveys. Only a small percentage of the sample flossed daily. More than half of the sample visited their dentists regularly. More than 70% visited their dentists for preventive examinations or cleanings within the year before the survey was done. Compared with the results from the 1966 and 1974 surveys, the preventive dental behavior of the white American families has improved significantly since 1966.

Planning school based sexuality programs utilizing the PRECEDE model.

PIP: Both substantive and methodological issues in teenage sexuality were explored. Specific study purposes were the following: 1) to explore the effectiveness of a community needs assessment to reduce traditional negative parental input and facilitating the use of the schools as public health resources; 2) to identify substantive targets of intervention for curriculum development which would be accepted and supported by both parents and teenagers; and 3) to develop a methodology of assessment where the PRECEDE model would be tested for its utility in identifying educational targets in a complex and multidimensional area such as human sexuality and to quantify the model's categories to identify major differences in perceptions between parents and teenagers, and to explore underlying constructs in teenage sexuality. The PRECEDE model provides an assessment of social and epidemiological factors as well as an investigation of the behavioral causes of the outcomes as identified by the community. 50% of the population of 600 families living in a small midwestern community were surveyed: 204 parents and 210 teenagers responded to the survey. The following were among the major findings: 1) a community needs assessment using the PRECEDE model was effective in reducing negative political input and in facilitating the use of the schools as public health resources; 2) there were major needs, especially in the identification of important social problems; and 3) 24% of the teenagers reported they were sexually active while only 10% of the parents perceived their children as being sexually active.^ieng

An evaluation of the behavioral aspect of a prevention-oriented oral health program.

The teaching and learning program is not effective in the behavioral dimension, given the data of this evaluation. The Navy Plaque Index was shown to be an unreliable instrument, when utilized with a relatively large number of upper elementary level students by more than one dentist, due to differences in the level of plaque recorded by the dentists.

Computer-assisted instruction in health education: a pilot study.

This pilot study examined the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in health education. Students were exposed to four PLATO (CAI mechanism) lessons and were pre- and post-tested via a cognitive examination. These results were compared to results of those students in a control group. Students in the experimental group completed evaluation questionnaires for each lesson. In addition, a cost-effectiveness study was computed for utilizing PLATO. Results indicated that (1) students enrolled in the PLATO course learned as much as the students in the Traditional course, (2) the time devoted to teaching didactic information may be reduced by a least 50 per cent, (3) students tend to prefer the use of CAI to the lecture method, and (4) departments of instruction are able to expand courses to meet the needs of those students unable to previously enroll in these classes, at no additional cost to the department of the university.