Suchergebnisse

An understanding of why parents provide consent for adolescent participation in research on sensitive topics can inform and improve the ethical conduct and review of such research. As part of a longitudinal study of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in lower-income adolescents, we asked 134 parents why they permitted their daughter to participate, analyzing responses using qualitative methods. Over half described participation benefits, providing reasons such as the study being generally good for their daughters, sex education, someone to talk to, and STI testing. Other reasons included positive interactions and familiarity with research and clinical staff, friend or family member participation, and adolescent autonomy in making the decision to participate. If parents perceived their daughter to be "at risk" in some way, such as for STI or pregnancy, they were more likely to cite participation benefits. These data can be used to make such research more sensitive to family and community needs.

This article examines the experiences of 25 persons who were assigned female status at birth but do not wish to live as women and take on a masculine or queer gender identity. We employ the concept of "gendered embodiment" and introduce the concept of "sexualized embodiment" to highlight what is involved in this process. We ask how experiencing a masculine gender identity is reflexively tied to a trans man's sexuality and the ways in which these two embodiments are tightly, moderately, or loosely coupled. For example, a tight coupling appeared when trans men began to use testosterone and obtained surgery such as breast removal; a moderate coupling was found where gender validation was sought from a sexual partner (with this being related to sexual preference identities as well as the interpretation of vaginal penetration); the loosest coupling of the gender‐sexuality embodiments was linked to the liberality of the locale and whether "queer" identities could be easily adopted. In sum, our research demonstrates the link between gender and sexuality as a result of the body work trans men do and the historical and geographical situations in which they find themselves.

HIV incidence among young adult men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM) is among the highest in the United States (US), yet YMSM have lower rates of HIV testing than most other MSM. Among 1,835 U.S. Black, Hispanic, and White YMSM who reported condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in the prior year, 30% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [28%, 32%]) had not been tested for HIV in the past year as recommended by national guidelines, and 19% (95% CI: [17%, 21%]) had never been tested. Factors associated with not being tested in the past year included not having a primary care provider (PCP)) (odds ratio [OR]: 2.00, 95% CI: [1.53, 2.60]), discomfort with asking a PCP for an HIV test (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: [2.05, 3.44]), living in a smaller community (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: [1.35, 2.18]), younger age (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: [1.53, 2.60]), and greater self-perception of having an undiagnosed HIV infection (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: [1.07, 1.99]). YMSM who had not been tested in the prior year were less likely to know where to get tested, yet were interested in trying home-based HIV self-testing. This study shows that knowledge, clinician-relationship, geographic, and perceptional barriers must be overcome to improve HIV testing among YMSM. Home-based HIV self-testing may address some of these barriers, particularly for YMSM living in smaller communities.