Early adversity and sexual diversity: the importance of self-reported and neurobiological sexual reward sensitivity.

Work shows that sexually-diverse individuals face high rates of early life adversity and in turn increased engagement in behavioral outcomes traditionally associated with adversity, such as sexual risk taking. Recent theoretical work suggests that these associations may be attributable to heightened sexual reward sensitivity among adversity-exposed women. We aimed to test these claims using a combination of self-report and EEG measures to test the relationship between early adversity, sexual reward sensitivity (both self-reported and EEG measured) and sexual risk taking in a sexually diverse sample of cis-gender women (N = 208) (Mage = 27.17, SD = 6.36). Results showed that childhood SES predicted self-reported sexual reward sensitivity which in turn predicted numbers of male and female sexual partners. In contrast we found that perceived childhood unpredictability predicted neurobiological sexual reward sensitivity as measured by EEG which in turn predicted male sexual partner number. The results presented here provide support for the notion that heightened sexual reward sensitivity may be a pathway through which early life adversity augments future sexual behavior, and underscores the importance of including greater attention to the dynamics of pleasure and reward in sexual health promotion.

Armed conflicts and experience of intimate partner violence among women in Afghanistan: analysis of the 2015 Afghanistan DHS data.

OBJECTIVE: Armed conflicts and intimate partner violence (IPV) impose a burden on individual and societal well-being. Given the history of armed conflict in Afghanistan and the high prevalence of IPV, this study aims to examine the influence of armed conflicts on IPV among Afghan women. METHODS: Multilevel logistic regression models were applied to the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey (N=10 414 women aged 15-49). Armed conflict severity was measured using the conflict index issued by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, IPV was measured by three types of violence, including emotional, physical and sexual violence. All analyses were conducted by using STATA V.15.1. RESULTS: Over 52% of women experienced at least one type of IPV, with 33.01%, 49.07%, and 8.99% experiencing emotional, physical, and sexual violence, respectively. The regression results show that armed conflicts were significantly and positively associated with the experience of all types of IPV. In addition, the association between armed conflicts and the experience of emotional IPV was positively moderated by women's attitudes towards IPV. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that women living in high-conflict regions were more prone to experience IPV, particularly women with positive attitudes towards IPV. Promoting progressive gender roles, women's empowerment, awareness of IPV and inclusion of women in conflict resolution will help deal with the issue of IPV.

Latent class analysis of barriers to HIV testing services and associations with sexual behaviour and HIV status among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) face multiple barriers to accessing healthcare services, which can interact, creating complex needs that often impact health behaviours, leading to increased vulnerability to HIV. We aimed to identify distinct AYA subgroups based on patterns of barriers to HIV testing services and assess the association between these barrier patterns and sexual behaviour, socio-demographics, and HIV status. METHODS: Data were from Nigeria's AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS, 2018) and included 18,612 sexually active AYA aged 15-24 years who had never been tested for HIV and reported barriers to accessing HIV testing services. A Latent class analysis (LCA) model was built from 12 self-reported barrier types to identify distinct subgroups of AYA based on barrier patterns. Latent class regressions (LCR) were conducted to compare the socio-demographics, sexual behaviour, and HIV status across identified AYA subgroups. Sex behaviour characteristics include intergenerational sex, transactional sex, multiple sex partners, condom use, and knowledge of partner's HIV status. RESULTS: Our LCA model identified four distinct AYA subgroups termed 'low-risk perception' (n = 7,361; 39.5%), 'consent and proximity' (n = 5,163; 27.74%), 'testing site' (n = 4,996; 26.84%), and 'cost and logistics' (n = 1,092; 5.87%). Compared to adolescents and young adults (AYA) in the low-risk perception class, those in the consent and proximity class were more likely to report engaging in intergenerational sex (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.35), transactional sex (aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.23-1.84), and have multiple sex partners (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.39-2.20), while being less likely to report condom use (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99). AYA in the testing site class were more likely to report intergenerational sex (aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.39) and transactional sex (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.26-1.85). AYA in the cost and logistics class were more likely to engage in transactional sex (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.58-2.84) and less likely to report condom use (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-0.98). There was no significant relationship between barrier subgroup membership and HIV status. However, being female, aged 15-24 years, married or cohabiting, residing in the Southsouth zone, and of Christian religion increased the likelihood of being HIV infected. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of barriers to HIV testing are linked with differences in sexual behaviour and sociodemographic profiles among AYA, with the latter driving differences in HIV status. Findings can improve combination healthcare packages aimed at simultaneously addressing multiple barriers and determinants of vulnerability to HIV among AYA.

Examining the relationship between intimate partner violence and child development program attendance in young children: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of the present study was to determine the association between different types of intimate partner violence against women and nonattendance at the Growth and Development Control Program (CRED or well-child visits) of their children under 5 years of age. This was an analytical cross-sectional study that comprised a secondary analysis of data from the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES in Spanish) of Peru, 2019. Data from 19,647 mothers (aged 15-49 years) and their children under 5 years were analyzed. The independent variables were the types of intimate partner violence = emotional, physical, and sexual. The outcome variable was nonattendance at CRED in the last 6 months. The mean maternal age was 30.47 ±â€…6.66 years; 66.1% of children were between 25 and 60 months of age; the prevalence of nonattendance at CRED was 29.9%. A relationship was found between partner violence against the mother and nonattendance at CRED. Specifically, there was a higher probability of nonattendance in the children of women who experienced partner violence (sexual = aPR = 1.25 [95% CI = 1.07-1.44]; physical = aPR = 1.17 [95% CI = 1.08-1.26]; emotional = aPR = 1.12 [95% CI = 1.03-1.21]). This study showed an association indicating that children born to mothers experiencing intimate partner violence exhibit an elevated likelihood of nonattendance at CRED when compared to children of mothers not subjected to such violence. Therefore, emphasizing the promotion and monitoring of child development, especially for those with a history of maternal violence, should be a primary priority, particularly in primary care.

Prevalence, Correlates, and Trends of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Cambodia: Findings From 2014 and 2021-22 Cross-Sectional Demographic and Health Surveys.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is globally endemic and a gross violation of human rights, in addition to abuse of intimacy by some men against their female intimate partners. Based on literature review, attitudinal, socio-demographic, and experiential attributes of 15 to 49 year old ever partnered women in the heterosexual relationships were identified. This study used the anonymized 2020-21Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) data to compute the IPV prevalence and its correlates, in addition to computing the changes in IPV prevalence at the urban, rural, and at the national levels using data from the 2014 CDHS. Identified attitudinal, socio-demographic, and experiential attributes were used in the bivariate and multivariable analysis. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used for computing the bivariate and multivariate associations with IPV; additionally, trend analysis was done to compute changes in IPV prevalence between the 2 surveys. Lifetime prevalence of IPV was 20.70%, while the most common subtype was emotional IPV at 18.70%. Ten out of 12 correlates studied were found to be statistically significantly associated with IPV in the bivariate analysis. These were added in the multivariable model and 7 were found to be statistically significantly associated with IPV. Which included educational attainment of women and their intimate partners, number of living children, women's IPV acceptance, male partner's alcohol use, knowledge of physical beating of mother by one's father, and controlling behavior exercised by partner. During the intervening period between the 2 CDHSs, IPV and its subtypes were decreased in both urban and rural areas, as well as nationally. IPV decrease between the 2 DHSs and lower IPV rates in 2021-22 augur well for the health and human rights of Cambodian women. However, the ultimate target of eliminating IPV against women, will require measures that ensure economic and gender empowerment, and gender equality.

Intimate partner violence and associated factors among married adolescent girls and young women in the pastoralist community of South Ethiopia: is intimate partner violence associated with cultural phenomena?

Background: Violence against women is a major public health problem that affects the physical, sexual, mental, and social wellbeing of more than one-third of all women worldwide. Hence the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated factors among married adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) belonging to the pastoralist community of Dassenech district, South Omo Zone, South Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among married AGYW in the Dassenech district from March 1, 2022, to April 1, 2022. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select 545 participants. The data were collected using pre-tested and standardized WHO multi-country study tools. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the independent predictors of physical and sexual intimate partner violence. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the effect size, and finally, a p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of physical IPV among AGYW belonging to the pastoralist community of Dassenech district was 44.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 40%, 48%) and that of sexual IPV was 39.3% (95% CI: 35%, 43%). The husband only deciding for the household (AOR = 11.36; 95% CI: 6.97, 18.53), the father performing the Dimi cultural ceremony (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI: 2.22, 6.14), and frequent quarrels (AOR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.99) are significantly associated with physical IPV. Both partners drinking alcohol (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI: 1.94, 6.20), the husband only deciding for the household (AOR = 11.23; 95% CI: 6.91, 18.27), and frequent quarrels (AOR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.15, 4.56) were factors significantly associated with sexual IPV. Conclusion: Physical and sexual intimate partner violence is a significant public health problem in the study area. Therefore, interventional measures to change the attitude of cultural leaders, providing education to married men and women on risky sexual behavior, and empowering women need to be prioritized to prevent the occurrence of this problem.

Characteristics of men who have casual sex with men among Chinese university students: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The characteristics of men who have sex with men (either exclusively or with both men and women; MSM) who engaged in casual sex among Chinese male university students have not been compared with the characteristics of men who have sex with only women (MSW). This information is important for tailoring targeted behavioral interventions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission in this subgroup of MSM. METHODS: Data were derived from a large cross-sectional electronic questionnaire survey conducted at 13 universities in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2018. Bivariate analyses were used to compare demographic, HIV-related psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics between MSM and MSW students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year. Proportion differences between the two groups and their 95% confidence intervals were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 583 sexually active male students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year, 128 and 455 were MSM and MSW, respectively. Compared with MSW students, larger proportions of MSM students reported knowing that male-to-male sexual behavior was the main mode of HIV transmission among Chinese students (62.5% vs. 45.5%), consenting to commercial sex (67.2% vs. 53.4%), wanting to know the HIV serostatus of partners before casual sex (65.8% vs. 51.3%), feeling at risk of HIV infection (40.5% vs. 11.8%), high condom-decision scale scores (55.3% vs. 42.6%), engaging in sex with ≥ 5 casual sex partners (44.6% vs. 25.9%), searching for casual partners online (89.2% vs. 51.3%), consuming alcohol before casual sex (64.8% vs. 45.0%), engaging in sex with regular partners (83.1% vs. 67.0%), engaging in commercial sex (54.2% vs. 26.4%), and visiting a clinic for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) (16.4% vs. 8.4%). However, compared with MSW students, smaller proportions of MSM students reported knowing that consistent condom use could prevent HIV transmission (80.5% vs. 95.2%) and that VCT should be actively sought after risky sexual behavior (78.9% vs. 93.8%), using condoms sometimes/often (26.4% vs. 44.3%), and consistently using condoms (28.9% vs. 40.1%) while engaging in sex with casual partners. CONCLUSIONS: MSM students who engaged in casual sex were at a greater risk of HIV/STI transmission, compared with MSW students. Comprehensive interventions to address the risks of unprotected male-to-male sex, searching for casual sex partners online, and non-use of HIV testing services are needed to reduce the burden of HIV/STI transmission among this subgroup of MSM.

Reproductive coercion and abuse in intimate relationships: Women's perceptions of perpetrator motivations.

Reproductive coercion and abuse is a hidden and poorly recognised form of violence against women. It refers broadly to behaviours that interfere with or undermine a person's reproductive autonomy, specifically to promote or prevent pregnancy. Reproductive coercion and abuse can involve physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse in order to achieve these aims, and is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women. As an emerging field of scholarship, conceptual understanding of reproductive coercion and abuse is still in its infancy; however, it is often described as being linked to coercive control. In this article, we seek to highlight the complexity of this relationship through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 30 victim/survivors in Australia recruited from the community, focusing on their perceptions of the perpetrator's motivations. We developed four themes from our analysis: 1) His needs came first; 2) The illusion of a perfect father; 3) Creating a weapon of control; and 4) My body was his. Perceived perpetrator motivations ranged from entitlement and self-interest to a deep desire for domination and entrapment. Pregnancy preventing behaviour was more likely to be linked with entitlement and self-interest, whereas pregnancy promoting behaviour tended to be described by participants in relationships where there was a broader pattern of ongoing control and entrapment. Thus, we suggest that coercive control is a motivating factor for some, but not all men who perpetrate reproductive coercion and abuse. A greater understanding perpetrator motivations may be important for practitioners, particularly those working in sexual and reproductive health services, since it could be relevant to women's level of risk for coercive controlling behaviour or more extreme forms of physical or sexual violence.

Intimate partner violence and quality of life among mothers in Jordan during COVID-19 era.

AIMS: The study aims to examine the correlation between intimate partner violence [IPV] and quality of life [HRQoL] of mothers during COVID-19 era. METHOD: This study is a cross-sectional correlational study. The inclusion criteria was Jordanian women with at least 18 years old, who read and write in Arabic language and able to participate. The collection of data was done through a self-reported questionnaire distributed and completely filled with 300 married Jordanian women using social media. This study was conducted between the months of October and December 2020. The participants signed consent after being informed of their rights to exit at any point during the study and the study methods. RESULTS: The prevalence of IPV among women was 28.3. The mean of quality of life is 86.0 [SD = 13.1) and the mean of violence is 11.9 [SD = 3.01). There was a significant negative relationship between violence and quality of life (r2 = .224, p = .001). This means as the violence increases, the quality-of-life decreases. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there is an association between IPV and HRQoL among married people. Providing an education program and vital resources for women with the goal of preventing COVID-19 violence and assisting Jordanians become very essential.

Development and validation of the relational behavior interactions scale for couples.

In this research, we developed and validated a measure of couple-based reported behavior interactions (RBI). Specifically, Study 1 was designed to describe the development of the scale and to examine its reliability; Study 2 (N = 222), was designed to examine factors that could differentiate men and women. Additionally, we tested if women's behaviors could predict their partner's behavior. Results from the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a three-factor structure for couples' RBI which were labelled: Social Companionship and Affective Behavior Interactions (SAI) (Factor 1), Fulfilling Obligations and Duties of the Partner (FOD) (Factor 2) and Openness in the Relationship (OR) (Factor 3). In linear regression analyses, there was a significant difference between men and women in the second factor, which represents behaviors associated with fulfilling the responsibilities of a partner. On the other hand, neither the SAI factor nor the OR factor showed any distinct gender differences. The SPSS PROCESS analysis revealed that women's Social Companionship and Affective Behavior Interactions (Factor 1), and Openness in the Relationship (Factor 3) significantly predicted their male partner's behaviors. The relationship duration significantly moderated the association between women's and men's behaviors for both factors. Results are discussed in light of the need for a broader understanding of romantic behavioral interactions.

Patterns of sex behaviors and factors associated with condomless anal intercourse during the COVID-19 pandemic among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The present study examined the patterns of sex behaviors before and during COVID-19, and identified the factors associated with condomless anal intercourse during COVID-19 from individual, interpersonal, and contextual level among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among MSM in Hong Kong. A total of 463 MSM completed a cross-sectional telephone survey between March 2021 and January 2022. RESULTS: Among all participants, the mean number of regular sex partners, non-regular sex partners, and casual sex partners during the COVID-19 period were 1.24, 2.09, and 0.08 respectively. Among those who had sex with regular, non-regular, and casual sex partner during the COVID-19 period, respectively 52.4%, 31.8% and 46.7% reported condomless anal intercourse. Compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, participants reported significantly fewer number of regular and non-regular sex partners during the COVID-19 period. However, a higher level of condomless anal intercourse with all types of sex partners during the COVID-19 period was also observed. Adjusted for significant socio-demographic variables, results from logistic regression analyses revealed that perceived severity of COVID-19 (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.58, 0.88), COVID-19 risk reduction behaviors in general (aOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48, 0.96), COVID-19 risk reduction behaviors during sex encounters (aOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.30, 0.66), condom negotiation (aOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.44, 0.86), and collective efficacy (aOR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.64, 0.98) were protective factors of condomless anal intercourse with any type of sex partners during the COVID-19 period. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 control measures have caused a dramatic impact on the sexual behavior of MSM in Hong Kong. Interventions that promote condom use during the COVID-19 pandemic are still needed and such interventions could emphasize prevention of both COVID-19 and HIV.

Peer and land-based approaches for fostering empowering and healthy relationships with Indigenous and northern young people in the Northwest Territories.

Indigenous and Northern women in Canada experience high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), and this is particularly true in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Adolescents are also at increased risk of IPV, which has far-reaching, lifelong effects. Indigenous youth are particularly vulnerable to IPV due to ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma caused by colonialism, racism and residential school legacies. We explored attitudes towards IPV and the healthy relationship knowledge, skills, and experiences among participants of Fostering Open eXpression among Youth (FOXY) and Strength, Masculinities, and Sexual Health (SMASH) Peer Leader Retreats in the NWT. Multi-method approaches included quantitative surveys youth completed before and immediately following retreats. Quantitative analysis from retreats (2018-2021) included 240 participants aged 12-19 (mean age 14.5) who reported ever having an intimate partner. Most were from the FOXY program (64.2%), Indigenous (69.6%) and heterosexual (66.4%). Qualitative methods included Focus Group Discussions (FGD) (n = 69) conducted with peer leaders and apprentices (n = 311) and youth and adult staff (n = 14 FGDs, n = 165 participants). We thematically analysed FGDs to explore healthy relationship knowledge and skills, alongside paired t-tests to examine pre/post retreat changes in attitudes towards IPV. Qualitative findings suggest that leadership and embodied learning were effective in equipping youth with violence prevention and healthy relationship skills. While young women were committed to sharing knowledge and skills about healthy relationships in their communities, young men resonated with values of respect and appreciated support to identify and express emotions. Participants across programmes demonstrated their belief that healthy intimate relationships have communal, relational and intergenerational benefits. Quantitatively, we found a statistically significant reduction in attitudes accepting of IPV among young women, but no changes were noted among young men. Findings contribute to emergent evidence on strengths-based, culturally-responsive IPV prevention programming. Components of effective IPV prevention programming with young men merit further exploration.

Exclusive breastfeeding and its association with intimate partner violence during pregnancy: analysis from Pakistan demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global social issue and increasingly asks for the attention of policymakers. IPV is one of the main factors that affect the health of pregnant women and their infants during pregnancy and after childbirth; it will not only cause direct harm to women themselves but also reduce women's exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) behavior and pose a threat to newborn health. Existing facts on the association between IPV and EBF in the Pakistani context are negligible and incomplete to an enduring measure of IPV practice. To this effect, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between EBF and IPV practiced during the prenatal period and post-delivery. METHODS: The statistics study has drawn from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2018. A total of 1191 breastfeeding females aged 15-49 with children under 6 months were selected for the present study. T-test or chi-square test of Univariate test of hypothesis; Logistic regression model was utilized to explore the potential impact of IPV on female exclusive breastfeeding from three dimensions of physical, sexual and psychological violence, to provide data support for the Pakistani government to formulate policies to promote female EBF. All investigations have been performed in STATA software 16.0 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA) at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Among the 1191 participants, 43.6% (520 / 1191) of the females were EBF, while the rates of physical, sexual, and emotional IPV were 47.44%, 30.23%, and 51.72%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that females who have experienced physical IPV were 32% less likely to be exclusively breastfed (aOR = 0.68; 95% CI; 0.490, 0.980; P < 0.05), the chances of EBF were reduced by 22% in women who experienced IPV (aOR = 0.78; 95 CI; 0.55, 1.00; P < 0.05), females who experienced emotional IPV were 31% less probable to exclusively breastfed (aOR = 0.69; 95% CI; 0.47, 0.92; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study determines the adverse effects of sexual and psychological violence on EBF practices in women. Policymakers in Pakistan should actively implement assistance programs to reduce IPV, emphasize monitoring women's experiences of IPV before and after giving birth, and encourage women to break the "culture of silence" when they experience IPV to maximize their access to assistance.

Help-seeking experiences and intimate partner support in vulvodynia: A qualitative exploration.

BACKGROUND: Vulvodynia is a poorly understood chronic pain condition characterized by persistent and unexplained pain in the vulva. Given the intimate nature of the pain, partners may play an important role in promoting self-management and help-seeking behaviours among women with vulvodynia. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to explore the role of partner support in pain experiences and help-seeking behaviours among women with vulvodynia. DESIGN: A qualitative interpretive design was used. METHODS: Ten women with vulvodynia (M age = 37.9 years) were interviewed using a semi-structured non-directive topic guide. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes around help-seeking experiences were constructed from the data: (1) 'It's Been a Battle' - Failed by the Healthcare System; (2) 'It's Just the Vulva' - Dismissed by Healthcare Professionals; and (3) 'I Diagnosed Myself' - The Patient Becomes the Expert. Participants described negative help-seeking experiences characterized by long delays to diagnosis, lack of awareness and understanding from healthcare professionals, minimization of symptoms, and having to advocate for and demand care. A further three themes pertaining to partner support were also developed: (1) 'That Person to Listen to You' - Source of Emotional Support; (2) 'Why Don't You Try This?' - Finding Solutions Together; and (3) 'He Forgets that it's Still There' - Vulvodynia is a Foreign Concept. Partners provided emotional support and showed empathy and understanding, and practical support by accompanying women to medical appointments and help with pain management. However, participants felt partners' understanding of vulvodynia was limited and that this impacted their relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight a lack of continuity of care and multidisciplinary approach to treatment, with help-seeking experiences being mainly negative in this sample. Increasing public awareness of vulvodynia and improving healthcare access is crucial to improving physical and psychological outcomes for this group. Partners can play an important role in supporting people with vulvodynia; however, other outlets of support should be further explored.

Understanding How Women with Vulvodynia Seek Help and Get Support from Their PartnersVulvodynia is a condition where women experience persistent and unexplained pain in the vulva. This pain can be quite personal and difficult to deal with. In this study, we wanted to understand how partners of women with vulvodynia help them cope with the pain and seek medical help. We interviewed 10 women with vulvodynia about their experiences of accessing healthcare for their symptoms, and how their partners affected these experiences. Many women faced challenges when seeking medical help, like delays in getting a diagnosis, healthcare professionals not understanding their condition, and their symptoms being downplayed. Women often had to be their own experts and advocate for their care. Partners of these women provided emotional and practical support, like going with them to medical appointments and helping them to manage the pain. However, some women felt their partners did not fully understand vulvodynia, and their worries sometimes strained their relationships. In conclusion, the study showed that there is a need for better healthcare for women with vulvodynia, including more awareness and easier access to treatment. Partners can be supportive, but other forms of support, for example, from friends, family, and other people with experience of vulva pain, should also be explored.

Correlates of Sexual Behavior Across Fatherhood Status: Finding From the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), 2016-2018.

Amid national trends in postponed parenthood and more diverse family structures, the fatherhood identity may be important to men's sexual behaviors. This study examined factors associated with reports of consistent contraceptive use and multiple sexual partners across fatherhood status. Using public data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), Wave V (2016-2018), two sexual behaviors were examined among 1,163 men aged 32 to 42 years. Outcomes were two binary indicators: consistent contraceptive use with partner and having multiple (≥2) sexual partners in the past year. Fatherhood status was categorized as nonfather, resident father, and nonresident father. Demographic (e.g., race/ethnicity, education, income, and relationship type) and health-related (e.g., drinking, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and insurance status) factors were considered. Logistic regression analysis produced odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals and were stratified by fatherhood categories. In the sample, 72% of men were resident fathers, 10% were nonresident fathers, and 18% were nonfathers; 28% reported consistent contraceptive use and 16% reported multiple sexual partners. For nonfathers, relationship type and race were associated with reporting multiple sexual partners. For resident fathers, relationship type was the crucial factor associated with consistent contraceptive use and reporting multiple sexual partners. In nonresident fathers, relationship type, education, and income were important factors to consistent contraceptive use and reporting multiple sexual partners. Key findings suggest that relationship type, income, and education are crucial factors to men's sexual behavior. Heterogeneous effects were observed across fatherhood status. This study adds to limited research on fatherhood and sexual behavior among men transitioning from young adulthood to middle age.

Sexually transmitted infections and dating app use.

Incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is rising sharply in the United States. Between 2014 and 2019, incidence among men and women has increased by 62.8% and 21.4%, respectively, with an estimated 68 million Americans contracting an STI in 2018.a Some human behaviors impacting the expanding STI epidemic are unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners.b Increasing dating app usage has been postulated as a driver for increases in the numbers of people engaging in these behaviors. Using the proposed model, it is estimated that both STI incidence and prevalence for females and males have increased annually by 9%-15% between 2015 and 2019 due to dating apps usage, and that STI incidence and prevalence will continue to increase in the future. The model is also used to assess the possible benefit of in-app prevention campaigns.ahttps://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/fact-sheets/std/STI-Incidence-Prevalence-Cost-Factsheet.htmbA. N. Sawyer, E. R. Smith, and E. G. Benotsch. Dating application use and sexual risk behavior among young adults. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 15:183-191, 2018.

Acceptance and use of condoms among school-aged young people in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Despite availability of vaccines or medical prophylaxis for some sexually transmissible infections (STIs), promoting condom use remains an important public health strategy for the prevention of STIs. Recent research shows that regular condom use among young people in Australia has declined over the past decade, while the rate of common STIs has increased. METHOD: In this paper, we report findings from a large survey of school-aged young people in Australia (14-18years old) in which we looked at the association between condom use and positive feelings about sex, beliefs about social acceptability of condoms and confidence talking with partners about sex and condoms. RESULTS: Communication and relational factors supported more consistent condom use. Participants were more likely to regularly use condoms if they discussed condom use with a sexual partner, perceived condom use to be easy (a measure that included perceived ease of discussing condoms with a partner) and perceived condom use to offer social or relational benefits, including perceiving condom use as a demonstration of care for a partner. Young men were more likely to report positive feelings about sex and regular condom use than young women. Young women were less likely than young men or trans and non-binary young people to report regular condom use. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows the importance of supporting young people to build confidence expressing sexual needs and wants with partners. Public health approaches to STI prevention need to consider condom promotion in the context of young people's contemporary sexual, gendered and relationships cultures.

Influence of families and other adult support on HIV prevention outcomes among black men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has consistently shown that the involvement of families plays a vital role in reducing risk behaviors, such as engaging in condomless sex, and promoting HIV prevention behaviors among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). With the aim of expanding the existing knowledge, this study aimed to examine the specific influence of families and other supportive adults in facilitating casual condom use, partner condom use, HIV testing, and preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization among young Black MSM. METHODS: A sample of YBMSM aged 18-29 years (N = 400) was collected online. We used a path analysis to examine the influence of family factors on PrEP stigma and PrEP use. Respondents were recruited from December 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022. We used a path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of family factors on PrEP use through HIV testing and encouraging condom use. RESULTS: Among BMSM, other adult support was positive and directly associated with condom use by both casual partners (ß = 0.04, p < .05) and partners (ß = 0.17, p < .01). Condom use by casual partners was negative and was directly associated with HIV testing (ß = - 0.15, p < .01). CONCLUSION: The primary aim of this research was to examine the influence of family and adult support on HIV prevention behaviors among young Black MSM, including condom use, HIV testing, and PrEP use. Our findings highlight the significance of implementing interventions that incorporate families and other supportive adults to enhance the engagement of young Black MSM in HIV prevention behaviors.

Long-Term Psychological and Physiological Effects of Male Sexual Trauma.

Male sexual trauma presents multiple clinical challenges. Although the topic has received increased attention in the last couple decades, male sexual trauma continues to be underreported and underrecognized. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of sexual trauma for men who were victimized within an institutional environment by a person in a position of power. This study included data from 47 adult men who were victims of sexual abuse or misconduct by an assigned physician at a higher education academic institution between 1966 and 2003. A primary finding was elevated rates of intimacy and sexual problems and erectile dysfunction, which started shortly after the abuse and persisted over time. We found that there was an association between intimacy and sexual problems and difficulty maintaining employment, drug addiction, erectile dysfunction, and loss of meaningful and romantic relationships. Levels of potential psychopathology were prominently linked to loss of sexual interest or pleasure, intimacy concerns, and loss of intimate and other personal relationships. Men who experienced sexual abuse as adults within an institutional environment developed long-standing patterns of interpersonal and professional problems. This study emphasizes the need for nuanced screening, evaluation, and treatment for male sexual trauma.