The Association Between Nonbarrier Contraceptive Use and Condom Use Among Sexually Active Latina Adolescents.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the association between use of highly effective methods of nonbarrier contraception and condom use in a sample of Latina adolescents and whether the change to a more effective method of nonbarrier contraception is associated with a change in condom use. METHODS: As part of a larger study, 442 sexually active Latina adolescents aged 14-18 years were surveyed immediately before an appointment with a medical care provider at a school-based health center and 3 months later. Ordinal logistic and linear regression were used in the analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal data to assess the relationship between patterns of nonbarrier contraception and condom use. RESULTS: The use of all types of nonbarrier methods of contraception was significantly associated with decreased condom use. Change over time from a less effective to a more effective nonbarrier method of contraception was also associated with a decrease in condom use. Greater number of sexual encounters was associated with lower the frequency of condom use. CONCLUSIONS: The use of highly effective methods of nonbarrier contraception was associated with reduced frequency of condom use. This highlights the need to promote condom use concurrently with nonbarrier methods of contraception to improve protection against both pregnancy and STIs.

Pediatric Resident Attitudes Toward Inpatient Immunization of Children and Adolescents: Highlighting Differences in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination.

Over a decade after its debut, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage remains suboptimal. The inpatient setting presents a largely unexplored opportunity to increase vaccination rates. This study aims to describe pediatric resident attitudes toward inpatient immunization and compare differences by vaccine, in particular HPV. An anonymous survey of beliefs and practices regarding inpatient vaccines was distributed to pediatric resident physicians at a single freestanding urban children's hospital in September 2017. A total of 58 surveys were collected (64% response rate). We found that pediatric residents were more likely to report that they never or rarely discuss the HPV vaccine during hospitalization compared with the primary childhood series (P = .001), Tdap (P = .02), and the influenza vaccine (P < .001), and rarely offer the HPV vaccine during hospitalization compared with childhood vaccines (P = .003) and influenza (P = .001). This suggests that provider hesitancy still exists for the HPV vaccine, presenting opportunities for further education and inpatient interventions.

Social Media Use and its Association with Sexual Risk and Parental Monitoring among a Primarily Hispanic Adolescent Population.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: In this study we assessed the association between social media (SM) use with sexual risk, and with parental monitoring among Hispanic adolescents. DESIGN: Self-administered anonymous survey. SETTING: Urban primary care clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Primarily Hispanic adolescents ages 13-21 years old. INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chi-square and regression analyses controlling for age and gender were used to assess associations between SM use or sexting and sexual behaviors (kissing, touching genitals, vaginal oral, and anal sex), sexual risk (≥4 lifetime partners, >1 recent partner, inconsistent condom use, and history of sexually transmitted infection diagnosis) and contraceptive use. Similar analyses were used to assess relationships between adolescent-reported parental monitoring and SM use, and sexting. RESULTS: Participants with frequent SM use (social networking sites or apps) had greater odds of all sexual activity. Ever sexters had greater odds of penetrative sex only (oral, vaginal, and anal sex) as well as use of hormonal contraception (except long-acting reversible contraception). Approximately half of the participants reported parental access to profiles on SM. Female participants had higher odds of parental access to online profiles and having a parental discussion of privacy settings. Those having privacy discussions had greater odds of "private" profiles on SM and lower odds of ever sexting. CONCLUSION: Frequent SM use and sexting was associated with an increase in all types of sexual behaviors; sexting alone was associated with more lifetime and recent sexual partners. Parental discussion of privacy settings was found to be protective. Providers and parents should be aware of the effect of SM use on sexual behaviors.