Carol F. Roye

The relationship of partner support to outcomes for teenage mothers and their children: A review

This article reviews the literature on the relationship of partner support to outcomes for teenage mothers and their children. It discusses the changing alliance over time between men who father their babies and the young mothers and their children. This report considers both adults and adolescents who father children with adolescent women. The discussion focuses on the relationship between partner support and three outcomes for the mothers: educational outcomes, economic outcomes, and psychological well-being. The general association between partner support and the childrens development is also examined. In addition, partner support is viewed within the context of the teenagers family system, providing a framework for assessing key features of support for teenage mothers. The article outlines suggestions for future research.

A Brief, Low-Cost, Theory-Based Intervention to Promote Dual Method Use by Black and Latina Female Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial

HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects young women of color. Young women who use hormonal contraception are less likely to use condoms. Brief, inexpensive HIV-prevention interventions are needed for high-volume clinics. This study was a randomized clinical trial of two interventions: (a) a video made for this study and (b) an adaptation of Project RESPECT counseling. Four hundred Black and Latina teenage women completed a questionnaire about their sexual behaviors and were randomly assigned to (a) see the video, (b) get counseling, (c) see the video and get counseling, or (d) receive usual care. At 3-month follow-up, those who saw the video and received counseling were 2.5 times more likely to have used a condom at last intercourse with their main partner than teens in the usual care group. These differences did not persist at 12-month follow-up. This suggests that a brief intervention can positively affect condom use in the short term.

Abnormal cervical cytology in adolescents: A literature review

This article reviews the literature on the subject of cervical cytological abnormalities in teenagers, defined as a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear result more severe than inflammation. There is discussion of the increasing prevalence of this problem in adolescents. Behavioral and biologic risk factors are examined. The role of the human papillomavirus, widely believed to be the etiologic agent, is addressed. Atypia, its relationship to cervical malignancies, and its management are reviewed. The possible role of the human immunodeficiency virus in the increasing prevalence of cytological abnormalities in teens is considered.

Routine provision of emergency contraception to teens and subsequent condom use: a preliminary study

This prospective study examines the relationship between routine provision of emergency contraception (EC) and subsequent condom use by adolescent African-American and Hispanic women in the US. Eligibility criteria of study participants included women aged 14-20 years not pregnant and not currently using Depo-Provera or Norplant. The subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire and were given the Preven kit. Follow-up questionnaires were mailed out 1 month and 3 months after the initial survey to assess the sexual behaviors of study participants. Statistical analysis examining condom use during the 3-month period after receiving Preven included 38 subjects only. At intake 53% (n = 20) of this subsample reported having used a condom at last sexual intercourse and 46% (n = 18) reported no condom use at last intercourse. The study found that 9 young women reported that EC had changed something about the way they used birth control. 5 young women reported that EC resulted in more responsible use of contraceptives and one indicated that EC resulted in less responsible use of contraceptives. These preliminary findings suggest that provision of EC may not have an adverse effect on condom use and may prompt teens to think seriously about their contraceptive behavior.

Pap smear screening for adolescents: Rationale, technique, and follow-up

Cervical cytologic abnormalities are increasingly prevalent in teenagers. Adolescents are at greater risk for cervical neoplasia than adult women because of the biologic changes occurring in the cervix during puberty, the prevalence of human papillomavirus, and the behavioral risk factors in this age group. Two behavioral risk factors are early age at first coitus and multiple sex partners. Human papillomavirus is widely believed to be the etiologic agent associated with the spectrum of cervical neoplasias. Papanicolaou smear technique, reporting, and management of abnormal smears in teens is explained.

Condom Use by Hispanic and African American Teens and Young Adults

Abstract Widespread use of recently-approved, long-acting hormonal contraceptives, i.e. Depo-Provera and Norplant, raises serious concerns that rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may rise in the teens and young women who use these methods because they may perceive the probability of pregnancy to be very low. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 616 adolescent and young adult women in an innercity clinic, using a self-report questionnaire. Results: Users of long-acting or oral contraceptives were significantly less likely to have used condoms (OR 1.8, p=.005; OR 1.6, p<.000, respectively). In addition, discussing sex with friends was associated with more frequent condom use (p=.02). However, Hispanic young women were significantly less likely to have had such discussions with friends (p=.05), and they used condoms significantly less often than African American women (p=.03). Implications for HIV Prevention: Using the Health Belief Model (HEM) as a framework, perceived susceptibility...