A Health Needs Assessment of Arab-Americans in the Washington, DC Area

Although Arab-Americans often face various health challenges due to the stress associated with immigration, cultural conflict in the U.S., and limited knowledge of the complex U.S. health system, there is a paucity of research examining health risks and behaviors among this ethnic group. This cross-sectional study assessed the health needs among Arabs living in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Participants were recruited to take the survey online, reporting on health care access and utilization, risk behaviors, and health status. It also measured for associations between reported depression, discrimination, acculturation, and health. Quantitative analysis showed correlations between age and current tobacco use, however no differences between men and women. Depression was significantly correlated with gender, age, and place of birth. Men were more likely to report having diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension than women. Results suggest that health promotion programs for Arabs in the DC area may help reduce health risks

Social Media and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents: Is there a link?

Background: Adolescent sexual risk taking and its consequences remain a global public health concern. Empirical evidence on the impact that social media has on sexual health behaviors among youth is sparse. Objective: The study aimed to examine the relationship between social media and the change in sexual risk over time and whether parental monitoring moderates this relationship. Methods: This study comprised a sample of 555 Latino youth aged 13-19 years from Maryland, United States completing baseline and follow-up surveys. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to examine the relationship between social media and the change in sexual risk over time and whether parental monitoring moderated the relationship. Results: Sexual risk behaviors significantly increased between baseline (T1) and follow up (T2) (mean=0.432 vs mean=0.734, P\u3c.001). Youth sending more than 100 text messages per day had significantly higher sexual risk scores (beta=1.008, P\u3c.001) but significantly larger declines in sexual risk scores for higher levels of parental monitoring (beta=−.237, P=.009). Conclusions: Although adolescents exchange SMS at high rates, parental monitoring remains vital to parent-child relationships and can moderate SMS frequency and sexual risk behaviors, despite parental influence diminishing and peer pressure and social influences increasing during adolescence

Extracranial-intracranial bypass for Takayasu\u27s arteritis: A case report

AbstractObjectiveTakayasu’s arteritis is a rare disease that often affects the great vessels at the origin as they branch from the aortic arch. There are numerous case series and case reports in the cardiothoracic literature describing carotid bypass to reestablish blood flow past the areas of stenosis. We present a rare case of thrombus forming in the distal ICA and occluding intracranial vessels, thus necessitating neurosurgical evaluation and intervention.MethodsThis is a case report of a 21-year-old right-handed female who presented with right-sided hemiplegia, facial weakness, and language impairment. Radiological imaging showed occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) and bilateral distal carotids. MR angiogram of the head and neck confirmed the above findings and also showed high-grade stenosis of the right vertebral artery at its origin. An EC–IC bypass was necessary to maintain perfusion to the left side of her cortex and to prevent further neurological deficits.ResultsAt the 9month follow-up, her overall neurological exam has improved from complete paralysis on the right side to more than antigravity in her motor strength assessment. The follow-up imaging showed that the bypass remained patent while the ICA remained occluded.ConclusionSTA–MCA bypass to enhance cerebral blood flow in the setting of stroke symptoms due to Takayasu’s arteritis can serve as a bridge before definitive cardiothoracic treatment of the great vessels

Gender attitudes in adolescence: evaluating the Girl Rising gender-sensitization program in India

Despite the gains India has made over the past 20 years, it remains a country with significant gender inequalities. Gender sensitization and empowerment programs during adolescence, when gender attitudes are formed, have the potential to diminish gender inequity. The Girl rising ‘Gender-sensitization program’ was implemented in 254 schools in India to support adolescents in identifying, articulating, and sharing their gender-related experiences. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a one group pre- and post-test with a sub-sample of schools in rural Punjab and Rajasthan, India (n = 2,894 adolescents). Multivariable regression analyses adjusting for gender, grade, and district found that gender equality scores increased by 0.66 points (p < .001), gender roles/privileges/restrictions mean score increased by 0.41 points (p < .001), and gender attribute mean score increased by 0.17 points (p < .001). Gender-sensitization programs can play an important role in forming and changing gender attitudes during adolescence, and have the potential to alter their short and long-term beliefs

Childhood Violence, Adult Relationship Violence, and Adult Health Outcomes Among South Asian Women in the U.S.

Background/Significance: The devastating effects of experiencing violence in childhood are seen well into adulthood. This has been particularly difficult to assess among South Asians (SAs) living in the US due to a lack of race-specific data. Objective/Purpose: A cross-sectional study of SA adult women living in the US was conducted to better understand the relationship between childhood exposure to violence, and gender-based violence and health behaviors in adulthood. Methods: A quantitative survey with over 500 SA women living in the US measured socio-demographics, exposure to violence as a child (verbal, sexual and physical), adult relationship violence, suicide, body esteem, and subjective well-being. Multiple logistic and linear regression models examined whether childhood violence was associated with suicide ideation and attempt; adult intimate partner violence; body esteem and subjective wellbeing. All models adjusted for age, household income, country of origin, and acculturation. Results:The models on suicide ideation and attempt, yielded significant findings for childhood verbal abuse (OR 5.22; 95% CI 3.06 – 8.91 and OR 4.91; 95% CI 2.34 – 10.32, respectively); childhood physical abuse (OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.56 – 8.79 and OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.96 – 13.67, respectively); sexual abuse (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.33 – 3.55 and OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.04 – 9.34, respectively); and having a battered mother (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.21 – 3.72 and OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.22 – 5.81, respectively). Significant associations were found between childhood verbal abuse and body esteem (β = -0.18, p Discussion/Conclusions: To date, this is the first study to examine childhood violence and its relationship to adult violence and health among South Asian women in the U.S.