Does Survival Vary for Breast Cancer Patients in the United States? A Study from Six Randomly Selected States

Background . Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Disparities in some characteristics of breast cancer patients and their survival data for six randomly selected states in the US were examined. Materials and Methods . A probability random sampling method was used to select the records of 2,000 patients from each of six randomly selected states. Demographic and disease characteristics were extracted from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. To evaluate relationships between variables, we employed a Cox Proportional Regression to compare survival times in the different states. Results . Iowa had the highest mean age of diagnosis at 64.14 years ( S E = 0.324 ) and Georgia had the lowest at 57.97 years ( S E = 0.313 ). New Mexico had the longest mean survival time of 189.09 months ( S E = 20.414 ) and Hawaii the shortest at 119.01 ( S E = 5.394 ) months, a 70.08-month difference (5.84 years). Analysis of stage of diagnosis showed that the highest survival times for Whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives were for stage I cancers. The highest survival times for Blacks varied. Stage IV cancer consistently showed the lowest survival times. Conclusions . Differences in breast cancer characteristics across states highlight the need to understand differences between the states that result in variances in breast cancer survival

Characterizing Sexual Health Conversations Among Afro-Caribbean Families: Adolescent and Parent Perspectives

Black adolescents, including Black immigrants living in the United States, experience a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, which are linked to adolescents’ sexual decision making. Parent-child sex conversation is one effective strategy to aid adolescents in making responsible sexual decisions and reducing their sexual risk. Applying a theoretical framework, this qualitative study sought to characterize the perceptions, enablers, and nurturers of parent-child sex conversations among Afro-Caribbean families and their role in adolescent sexual development. The sample included 14 mother-adolescent dyads/triads (N = 31), recruited from four community-based organizations in MiamiDade County, Florida. Utilizing a narrative inquiry approach, researchers collected data on parent-child sex conversations within Haitian and Jamaican families. Thematic content analysis was used to generate themes and allowed for comparisons across groups. Positive perceptions of sex conversations were reported, yet families experienced frequent barriers to sex conversations, including discomfort and limited sexual health knowledge. Extended family and community members were identified as additional and alternate sex educators, often reinforcing common cultural sexual views such as abstinence. To promote healthy adolescent sexual development, Afro-Caribbean adolescents may benefit from parents, extended family, and community members acting as early interventionists, who can provide accurate and culturally appropriate sexual health messages to adolescents

The Impact of the SEERs Project on HIV Testing in Kenya

Compared to other key populations, adolescents living in sub-Saharan Africa experience a high HIV disease burden. To address this, organizations have implemented a variety of youth-oriented HIV prevention strategies, including the HIV SEERs Project. SEERs is an innovative, community-based program designed with and for youth in Kenya to reduce HIV stigma (a known barrier to HIV testing), and increase treatment and retention in care. While preliminary research has demonstrated SEERs efficacy for increasing HIV knowledge and decreasing stigma, information about its efficacy as a means to increase HIV testing has been limited to assessing behavioral intentions. To address this limitation, SEERs facilitators partnered with 20 local HIV agencies in 2018 to offer on-site HIV testing during SEERs programming. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact, as well as the benefits and challenges of SEERs programming on HIV testing and linkage to care. SEERs facilitators collected and reported the following data monthly over the course of the year: number of locations for SEERs programming, number and age range of SEERs attendees, number of attendees who screened for HIV and, among those, the number who tested positive and were linked to care. Facilitators also provided written descriptions of the benefits and challenges of implementing the SEERs programming. We analyzed HIV testing data using descriptive statistics and used qualitative data to describe facilitators’ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of implementing the SEERs program. We discuss the contributions of these findings to the existing literature and explore future directions

“Sex Is a sin”: Afro-Caribbean Parent and Teen Perspectives on Sex Conversations

This study characterized (a) mothers’ childhood and teenage experiences with sex conversations and (b) families’ perceptions of current parent–child sex conversations within two underserved Afro-Caribbean communities in the U.S. Fourteen dyads comprised of Haitian and Jamaican mothers and teens (aged 14–18) living in Miami, Florida, completed semi-structured interviews sharing their experiences with sex conversations. Researchers analyzed data using thematic content analysis. Mothers’ mean age was 41.85 years, (SD = 5.50) and teens’ mean age was 16.35 years, (SD = 1.31). Most mothers reported forbidden or little childhood experiences with parent–child sex conversations. They affected their sexual attitudes, behaviors, and ability to discuss sex with their children. Although some mothers benefited from educational and skill development others shared fear-based messages with their children that some teens believed adversely affected the mother–child relationship quality. Culturally appropriate, skill-based approaches are necessary to improve families’ communication self-efficacy for healthy sex conversations to occur in Afro-Caribbean families