ABSTRACT
Many new surveys have been developed to assess the prevalence of online sexual abuse. An important type of question asked in many of these surveys is about online sexual solicitation. However, not all sexual solicitations of children necessarily qualify as sexual abuse as it has conventionally been defined. Sexual solicitations from other same age youth may be legal and nonabusive. Solicitations of youth above the age of consent by adults may also be legal. At the same time, many true online sex offenses may not be identified with questions about solicitation wanted or unwanted. This article reviewed 25 online sexual abuse survey reports. It also examined episodes and narratives from the U.S. National Technology Facilitated Abuse (TFA) survey, which asked about online solicitation and other online sexual offenses. Among the surveys reviewed, 9 of 25 elicited and counted online sexual solicitation from adults only, but the rest counted other youth solicitors as well as adults. Eight of 25 asked about only "unwanted" solicitations, but the rest had no such qualification, possibly including solicitations with positive or neutral reactions. Analysis of the TFA survey showed that in over half of solicitation episodes, the recipients did not actually know the age or identity of the solicitor. Very large differences in prevalence rates can occur depending on what types of solicitation are counted and how missing information is classified. Recommendations are made about classifying and reporting on findings about online solicitation.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes continues to affect minority populations disproportionately, especially Native Americans. Identifying culturally-specific definitions of health and diabetes is critically important for relevant and effective diabetes prevention programs. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 Native American men from two tribal clinics. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed by means of grounded theory, to identify culturally-specific definitions of health and diabetes. The men defined health in terms of physical capabilities and presence of disease. Conversely, the men viewed diabetes as an inexorable downward course that slowly manifests itself through various complications and ultimately results in death. Men feared for their own diagnoses as well as the diagnosis of family or community members whom they considered to be at-risk. Additional information about the perceptions of health and diabetes in racial and ethnic minority populations will significantly contribute to the development of effective diabetes prevention programs.