Stigma in America: has anything changed? Impact of perceptions of mental illness and dangerousness on the desire for social distance: 1996 and 2006.

Data from the 1996 and 2006 General Social Survey were analyzed to examine the relationship between the desire for social distance from individuals with mental illness and a number of factors that were thought to contribute to it, including perceptions of mental illness and dangerousness. Random samples of participants were assigned to one of four experimental conditions, in which they were read a vignette describing a character who presented with alcoholism, depression, schizophrenia, or minor problems. The desire for social distance from characters whose presenting problems were alcoholism or depression was significantly lower in 2006 than in 1996. The participants' perceptions that the character was mentally ill and/or dangerous to others partially mediated the association between presenting problem and social distance. Participants who were younger, white, better educated, and attended religious services more often required less social distance from the vignette characters than did their counterparts.

Men's attitudes toward breastfeeding: findings from the 2007 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Past research on breastfeeding demonstrates that male partners' support is a significant factor in mothers' decisions to breastfeed. This study explored the diversity of men's opinions about breastfeeding, for the purpose of increasing breastfeeding support among men. This study used the Texas sample of the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine whether men's attitudes toward breastfeeding varied by their demographic characteristics and whether fathers' breastfeeding attitudes were related to couples' choice of infant feeding method. Descriptive statistics and linear regression estimated the influence of each demographic characteristic on breastfeeding attitudes. Among a subsample of fathers, multinomial logistic regression analyzed the influence of men's breastfeeding attitudes on their choice of infant feeding method. Findings showed that Spanish-speaking Hispanic men were most likely to agree that breastfeeding had social limitations (e.g. interfere with social life) for mothers, yet they viewed public images of breastfeeding as more acceptable compared with other men. In comparison to U.S.-born men, foreign-born men were in greater agreement that employers should accommodate breastfeeding. Among fathers, support of public images of breastfeeding and attitudes toward employers' accommodations were positively associated with the choice to use breast milk. Men's ethnicity, country of origin, education level, and socioeconomic status all contribute to different norms and expectations about breastfeeding. Men's attitudes about public images of breastfeeding and employers' accommodations for breastfeeding mothers influence the choice of breast milk as the sole infant-feeding method.

HIV Comorbidities-Pay Attention to Hypertension Amid Changing Guidelines: An Analysis of Texas Medical Monitoring Project Data.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLWH). Studies suggest that hypertension prevalence among PLWH is high, yet none assess how the 2017 redefinition of hypertension as ≥130/80 rather than the previous standard of ≥140/90 mm Hg will affect prevalence among PLWH. This study addresses this gap. METHODS: We examined medical record abstractions of 957 PLWH in Texas from the 2013-2014 Medical Monitoring Project survey. Participants with hypertension were identified by charted diagnosis, antihypertensive medication use, or blood pressure readings ≥140/90 and ≥130/80 mm Hg. Associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed using Rao-Scott chi-square tests, and odds of having hypertension were calculated using multivariable logistic regression models while adjusting for several demographic and HIV-related variables. RESULTS: The 2017 redefinition of hypertension increased prevalence in the sample by 44.3%, from 47.6% to 68.7%. Age group, body mass index, sex, and race remained significantly associated with hypertension (all P < 0.01). Although prevalence was near equal between males and females at ≥140/90 mm Hg (47.4% and 48.5%, respectively), males were 2.36 times more likely to have hypertension than females (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-3.60) at ≥130/80 mm Hg. Prevalence remained comparable between white (73.3%) and black participants (72.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that hypertension prevalence is remarkably high among PLWH and is further increased by updated guidelines. Barriers to hypertension control in the HIV care setting should be identified and addressed to facilitate continued improvement in the quality and length of life for PLWH.

Urban-rural differences in attitudes and practices toward long-acting reversible contraceptives among family planning providers in Texas.

BACKGROUND: Despite the elevated rates of teen and unplanned pregnancies across the United States, long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) remain a less utilized birth control method. The present study investigated family planning providers' attitudes and considerations when recommending family planning methods and LARCs to clients. Additionally, this study explored whether urban-rural differences exist in providers' attitudes toward LARCs and in clients' use of LARCs. METHODS: Data were collected using an online survey of family planning providers at Title X clinics in Texas. Survey data was linked to family planning client data from the Family Planning Annual Report (2008). RESULTS: Findings indicated that, although providers were aware of the advantages of LARCs, clients' LARC use remains infrequent. Providers reported that the benefits of hormone implants include their effectiveness for 3 years and that they are an option for women who cannot take estrogen-based birth control. Providers acknowledged the benefits of several types of LARCs; however, urban providers were more likely to acknowledge the benefits of hormone implants compared with their rural counterparts. Results also indicated barriers to recommending LARCs, such as providers' misinformation about LARCs and their caution in recommending LARCs to adolescents. However, findings also indicated providers lack training in LARC insertion, specifically among those practicing in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: In light of the effectiveness and longevity of LARCs, teenagers and clients living in rural areas are ideal LARC candidates. Increased training among family planning providers, especially for those practicing in rural areas, may increase their recommendations of LARCs to clients.

Breast-feeding attitudes and behavior among WIC mothers in Texas.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the influence of demographic characteristics on attitudes toward the benefits of breast-feeding, approval of public breast-feeding, and the use of infant formula. Additionally, the study examined whether attitudes were related to infant feeding practices among mothers enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Texas. DESIGN: This study used a cross-sectional design. SETTING: Participants completed questionnaires at WIC clinic sites across Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Mothers of young children who were receiving WIC benefits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Attitudes toward the benefits of breast-feeding, attitudes toward public breast-feeding, attitudes toward infant formula, and the choice of infant feeding practice. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics, multivariate ordinary least squares regression, and multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: A key finding was that many Hispanic mothers held favorable attitudes toward both breast milk and infant formula. Younger and less educated mothers were least likely to agree with the benefits of breast-feeding. Mothers with positive attitudes toward the benefits of breast-feeding were likely to exclusively breastfeed and use both formula and breast milk. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Attitudes toward breast-feeding, public breast-feeding, and infant formula and their influence on breast-feeding behavior should inform the curriculum of breast-feeding promotion programs.