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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lucy Annang, PhD¹, Mina Madani, BA¹, Stephanie Rhodes, BA¹, Sheryl M. Strasser, PhD², Jessica L. Muilenburg, PhD³, and Diane M. Grimley, PhD¹. (1) Department of Health Behavior, UAB School of Public Health, RPHB 227, 1530 3rd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, 205-975-5467, lannang@uab.edu, (2) College of Dentistry, New York University, 433 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10010, (3) Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216

Background: Rising HIV rates, increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence, untimely screening and treatment of STIs, and ill effects of purported feminine hygiene practices are all health issues warranting professional intervention as a means of optimizing women's long-term reproductive health outcomes. Methods: Self-administered surveys were completed by women attending a family planning clinic in the Southern U.S. in order to understand reproductive health protective and risk-taking behavioral patterns. Results: Of 100 women surveyed, respondents ranged between 14 and 47 years (M=25.3 years). The majority were African American (65.0%), 74.0% were single, and nearly half (49.0%) were college-educated. Most women had at least once in their lifetime had a Pap smear (88.0%) and a clinical breast exam (82.0%). Of those, 78.4% reported having a Pap smear and 67.1% reported having a breast exam within the last year. Nearly all women (97.0%) were sexually active and most (84.0%) had a main sexual partner, of which 45.6% reported never or almost never using condoms with that partner. One quarter (25.0%) of the sample reported a previous STI diagnosis and 26.0% were current douchers. Conclusion: The majority of women in this sample appear to engage in several positive reproductive healthcare practices (such as annual screenings) while inconsistently adopting others (i.e. consistent condom use, not douching). Future research investigating both internal and external determinants of women's reproductive health behavior is necessary to enhance the adoption of recommended evidence-based guidelines.

Learning Objectives:

• To assess reproductive health practices of women.
• To determine motivational differences in reproductive health practices to improve long-term health outcomes.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered