Internet y conducta sexual de riesgo para VIH/SIDA en jóvenes / Internet and sexual risk behavior for HIV/AIDS in young people

Objetivo: Determinar si el uso de material sexual en línea influye en la conducta sexual de riesgo para VIH/SIDA en los jóvenes universitarios. Se utilizaron conceptos de la Teoría Cognitiva Social. Método: Diseño descriptivo correlacional, participaron 200 jóvenes universitarios, seleccionados por muestreo aleatorio sistemático (k = 11). Resultados: Los jóvenes que usaron material sexual en línea en medios ricos para masturbarse (r = .34), excitarse (rs = .29), estimularse (rs = .29), buscar una aventura (rs = .30), conocer gente (r = 27), imágenes (rs = .14) y cibersexo (r = .25) mostraron mayor conducta sexual de riesgo para VIH/SIDA (p< .01). El uso de material sexual en línea para masturbarse (Rs2 = 6.4%, F = 12.80, p < .001), buscar una aventura (R2 = 4.8%, F [1,189] = 9.56, p < .01), conocer gente (R2[1,189] = 5.9%, F = 11.88, p <.01) y tener cibersexo (R2 = 4.1%, F = 8.07, p < .01) presentó un efecto positivo y significativo en la conducta sexual de riesgo para VIH/SIDA. Conclusiones: El uso de material sexual en línea influye en la conducta sexual de riesgo para VIH/SIDA (AU)

Objective: To determine whether the use of online sexual material influences sexual risk behavior for HIV / AIDS in young university students. Concepts of Social Cognitive Theory were used. Methods: A descriptive correlational design, involving 200 university students selected by systematic random sampling (k = 11). Results: Young people who used sexual material online rich media to masturbation (r= 29), stimulation (rs = 29), adventure (rs = 30), meeting people (rs =.27), images (r =.17) and cybersex (rss =.25) showed greater sexual risk behavior for HIV / AIDS (p <.01). The use of sexual material online for masturbation (R2 = 6.4%, F [1,189] = 12.80, p <.001), seeking adventures (R2s =.34), arousal (r = 4.8%, F = 9.56, p<.01), meeting people (R2 = 5.9%, F [1,189] = 11.88, p <.01) and have cybersex (R =8.07, p <.01) had a significant positive effect on behavior sexual risk for HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: The use of online sexual material influences sexual risk behavior for HIV/AIDS (AU)

La autoestima como factor estresor intrapersonal para el consumo de alcohol en trabajadoras sexuales / Self-esteem as an intrapersonal stress factor on alcohol use in female prostitutes

Introducción. El alcoholismo es un problema mundial de salud y en las mujeres consumidoras se está incrementando. El sexo servicio podría estar ligado al consumo de alcohol. Objetivo. Medir la relación entre autoestima como factor estresor intrapersonal y el consumo de alcohol en las trabajadoras sexuales. Material y métodos. Estudio aprobado por el Comité de Investigación. Estudio transversal analítico en sexoservidoras en Cosoleacaque, Veracruz. Para consumo de alcohol se utilizó el cuestionario AUDIT y para la autoestima el inventario de Coopersmith. Análisis estadístico. Se calculó Razón de Momios entre autoestima baja y consumo de alcohol, intervalos de confianza al 95% y la Fracción Atribuible en los Expuestos. Se intentó generar un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados. La muestra fueron 50 sexoservidoras. La Razón de Momios entre autoestima baja y consumo de alcohol fue de 5.08, con una Fracción Atribuible en Expuestos de 80.3%. No se construyó el modelo logístico ya que ninguna variable de estudio mostró mejorar el modelo con el Test de Razón de Probabilidad Conclusiones. De acuerdo con el modelo de los Sistemas de Betty Neuman, la autoestima baja tiene efecto e impacto en el consumo de alcohol (AU)

Introduction. Alcoholism is a worldwide health issue, and female consumers are increasing. Prostitution could be linked to alcohol abuse. Objective. To evaluate the effect of self-esteem as an intrapersonal stress factor on alcohol use in female prostitutes. Material and methods. An approved study by the Research Committee. Cross-sectional, analytical study of prostitutes from Cosoleacaque, Veracruz, Mexico. For alcohol use the AUDIT questionnaire was used and for self-esteem, the Coopersmith inventory. Statistical analysis. The Odds Ratio between low self-esteem and alcohol use, 95% confidence intervals and Attributable Fraction in Exposed were calculated. An attempt was made to generate a logistic regression model. Results. The trial sample was made up by 50 prostitutes. The Odds Ratio between low self- esteem and alcohol use was 5.08 (95% CI 0.59 a 43.95), and an Attributable Fraction in Exposed of 80.3%. The logistic model was not built because no variable of the study demonstrated an improvement in the model using the probability ratio test. Conclusions. According to Betty Neuman’s system model, low self-esteem has a strong effect and impact in the use and abuse of alcohol (AU)

The sexual health consultation as a moral occasion.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are socially constructed as more 'dirty' than other gynaecological conditions. This article analyses women's accounts of interactions with clinicians, subsequent to a diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus or human papilloma virus. Women conceptualised consultations as a 'moral event,' different from other consultations. This moral component is highlighted drawing on Foucault's notion of 'the confessional.' Additionally, Douglas' anthropological construction of 'dirt' is used to consider why these consultations are 'confessional' experiences. Email interviews were conducted with 26 women diagnosed with a viral STI and 12 sexual health clinicians. Data were analysed thematically using a feminist, poststructuralist approach. Findings indicated that discourses of morality shape sexual health consultations. Five themes were identified in relation to the moral 'work' in clinical consultations about a viral STI diagnosis: the particular 'dirtiness' of viral STIs, clinicians as moral agents, the 'non-judgmental' clinician, women juggling truth-telling and risk and clinicians prescribing moral work. Clinicians support and educate women more effectively if they recognise subjective, moral aspects of sexual health consultations rather than assuming that effective clinical teaching is rational, scientific and non-judgmental.

Role of the nurse immuniser in implementing and maintaining the National Human Papillomavirus 'Cervical Cancer' Vaccine rollout through a school-based program in Victoria.

In an effort to understand the strengths and limitations of current approaches to human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) delivery in schools, we conducted an audit of nurse immunisers (NI). In this survey of 159 Victorian NI, the NI perceived that knowledge, safety and side effects were among the most important issues raised by parents, schoolgirls, and teachers in the school setting. The most common concern identified by NIs was the physical layout of the vaccination setting (41%), followed by safety, then knowledge of the vaccine. There is a need for ongoing assessment of factors that improve or impede the delivery of HPV vaccines.

[Mollusca contagiosa. From paediatric dermatology to sexually transmitted infection]. / Molluscum contagiosum. Von der pädiatrischen Dermatologie zur sexuell übertragbaren Infektion.

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a common cutaneous infection caused by the molluscipox virus (MCV) and can affect both children and adults. Molluscum contagiosum is relatively frequent in children aged 1-5 years old and can be localized almost anywhere on the body, but in adults it is regarded as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). MCV can be transmitted directly from person to person or by autoinoculation. MC in adults characteristically involves the genital area but extragenital appearance can be more typically seen in patients with immunosuppressive conditions, especially in HIV/AIDS. The onset of MC in HIV-positive individuals can be regarded as a part of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). MC probably affects both sexes equally in children, whereas it seems that in adults the incidence is more prevalent in males. Therapy is controversial but may be considerably beneficial in preventing transmission or autoinoculation. At present there is no aetiological treatment of MC and most treatment options are mechanical sometimes causing discomfort or are not sufficiently evidence-based. Attention should be given to the extragenital site of involvement in adults and HIV testing should be recommended. Both children and adults with MC should be educated to avoid scratching and skin contact with others to prevent transmission and autoinoculation. Adult patients with MC should be carefully screened for other STIs and appropriately counseled.

Natural history and epidemiology of hepatitis C.

The high incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) makes it one of the greatest health threats facing the world today. Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infectious disease in the United States, and evidence demonstrates that if the disease is not contained it will continue to spread and the death rate from hepatitis C will rise to a level far greater than that of AIDS. The epidemiological patterns of hepatitis C transmission will be reviewed.

Sexual transmission of hepatitis C and early intervention.

The major risk factors for the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been sharing needles for intravenous drug use (IDU) and receiving blood and blood products; however, recent findings suggest that HCV is being increasingly sexually transmitted, particularly among HIV-positive men who engage in high-risk, unprotected sexual behaviors with other men. Sixteen HIV-positive patients were diagnosed with sexually acquired HCV infection at a leading London HIV outpatient treatment center during 2002. All 16 patients were homosexual males with no history of IDU who had been involved in high-risk, unprotected sexual behaviors, which included active and passive anal intercourse, fisting, rimming, and oral sex. Six patients (37.5%) in the cohort spontaneously cleared HCV infection and consequently tested negative for HCV RNA. The remaining 10 patients were all started on HCV treatment, which consisted of pegylated interferon alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin. Three patients (43%) have achieved a significant reduction in HCV RNA after 12 to 24 weeks of HCV treatment. The earlier HCV seroconversion is detected and treated, the better the chance of achieving viral eradication.