Oral

This session addresses a range of issues related to sexuality throughout the life cycle. One paper will discuss the fact that although concurrent sexual partners increase the risk of STIs and HIV/AIDS, few studies have investigated the cultural meanings and functions of concurrency. The study examines sexual attitudes and behaviors among inner city Puerto Rican and African American young adults. Another presentation will explore the results of a collective case study of adolescent mothers in Mobile, Alabama. Longitudinal, in-depth portraits representing the phenomenon of rapid repeat pregnancy among low-income adolescents will be presented. The focus will then turn to rural Tanzania to examine fertility-related beliefs and practices in nine Tanzanian villages over a three-year period. Although many young women participating in the study wanted to prevent pregnancy, most used traditional pregnancy prevention practices. Very few used modern contraceptives. Sexuality in older urban women and men in Vietnam is explored in the last paper. Sexuality and existing sexual discourses of older people and how they cope with sexual health problems will be described.

Session Objectives: 1) Understand the importance of studying and developing interventions aimed at preventing rapid repeat pregnancy among adolescents 2) List the main reasons that emergent adults have concurrent sexual relationships 3) Recognize some of the key barriers that prevent young women in rural Africa from practicing effective contraception, and understand beliefs about causes of infertility and miscarriage 4) Analyze sexual practices of older people in the context of their every day lives

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing