Frank J. Smith

Changing needle practices in community outreach and methadone treatment

Abstract Many applied researchers have focused on reducing the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among injecting drug users (IDUs). This pre- and posttest design study used two samples of IDUs (one reached by street outreach and one by methadone treatment) to assess their drug-injecting practices and HIV risk behaviors and evaluate changes in risk-related injecting practices at posttest. Although their patterns of use differed, both samples included IDUs with long histories of injecting. Many IDUs from both the street and treatment samples practiced some HIV risk reduction behaviors at pretest. At posttest, both groups showed significant improvements in risk behaviors such as (a) cleaning needles more often, (b) renting or borrowing needles less often, and (c) sharing needles less frequently. Many, however, still shared other equipment. The speed with which these improvements occurred suggests that the intervention programs were the agents of change.

Education and Food Consumption Patterns in China: Household Analysis and Policy Implications

Abstract The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between adult (male and female) education level and food consumption patterns in 3543 Chinese households to determine whether an increase in education was related to consumption of different foods. Data from the 1991 administration of the China Health and Nutrition Survey were used for this study. A multistage, random cluster process was used to draw a sample of 3543 households from eight northern and southern provinces of China. Data from the household component and the health and nutrition component of the survey were used for this study. The primary explanatory variable of the education level of the male and female heads of household was measured in years of schooling. The categorical dependent variable indicated whether or not a household consumed a certain food over the 3-day time period. Sociodemographic variables such as income, rural-urban residence, province, and household size were included in the analyses as control variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between education (male and female) and the likelihood of consuming different foods. Data were analyzed using SAS PROC LOGISTIC, which modeled the probability of a food being consumed. The education level of the male and female heads of household had a differential impact on food consumption patterns. Female education had an effect on the consumption of nutritious and preferred foods that was independent of the effect of income; male education, on the contrary, had an effect on the consumption of these foods only when it interacted with income. The findings of this study have important implications for raising dietary and nutritional standards in China and for addressing the coexisting problems of undernutrition and overnutrition. In addition, the study highlights the important relationship between female education and food consumption within households. Implications for the rapidly growing food industry in China include the ability to identify consumer characteristics, such as education, that are associated with increasing or declining demand for different foods.

Sensation Seeking and STD Control

Abstract Most adolescents have received AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) prevention education, and while research shows that relevant safer sex knowledge has improved, corresponding behavior changes are lagging. In this study, questionnaires were used to examine relationships among sensation seeking safer sex attitudes, and safer sex practices in older adolescents. Results suggest that condom use is related to intentions to use condoms, but not directly to sensation seeking or to sexual motivation. While sexual motivation in dating is still high, recent health education efforts may be responsible for altering condom use intentions and practices. Discussion stresses the need to consider such variables as gender and sensation seeking when advising adolescents on STD prevention.