March 2019: Power Updates Edition

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March 2019: Power Updates Edition

March 29, 2019

There are plenty of articles, publications, and stories published every month. In an effort to help you distinguish fact from fiction, save time in your already busy day, and share news you may not have otherwise seen, here are seven stories from the last month we thought you might find interesting:

Shifting the Paradigm in HIV Prevention and Treatment Service Delivery Toward Differentiated Care for Youth

In general, tremendous progress has been made in preventing and treating HIV and AIDS in the United States. However, not all HIV services fit every patient’s needs and as a result, new diagnoses are increasing among racial, ethnic, and sexual minority young adults. To address these disparities, an innovative, differentiated care framework specific to the young adults most at-risk for contracting HIV is presented.

The Process of Becoming a Sexual Black Woman: A Grounded Theory Study

Last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing that STI rates are climbing across the country, but Black women are contracting STIs (including HIV) at a disproportionate rate to women of other races and ethnicities.  This paper identified three stages of sexual identity and discusses how future research must study the experiences of Black women under age 18.

Why Is It So Hard to Have Honest Conversations About Sex?

Two sex educators, Emily Nagoski and Dominick Quartuccio, speak to NPR in this piece on where we learn about sex and how those experiences influence our future behaviors.

Women Call for More Education, Contraceptive Choices to Prevent Unplanned Pregnancy

Between 1991 and 2017 the teen birth rate fell by a historic 70 percent. This follows a broader trend in a decrease in the number of unplanned pregnancies across the country. Compared to other developed countries, however, the United States still has a high number of unplanned births, which affects women’s lives in numerous ways. This feature covers some of the reasons why women want to avoid an unplanned pregnancy and how life experiences can impact awareness and opinions about pregnancy prevention.

The Misclassification of Ambivalence in Pregnancy Intentions: A Mixed‐Methods Analysis
Frequently, measures of pregnancy intent fail to describe the intricacies of pregnancy desire and ineffectively account for the varied experiences of young people. This analysis looks at the nuances of pregnancy ambivalence and how current measures attempt to capture this complex concept.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity Prevalence and Trends

While data show there are notable racial and ethnic disparities in the maternal morbidity rate in the United States, we do not know much about how disparities are changing or what factors play a significant role in their existence. Findings from this California study that examined prevalence and trend data suggest variation by race/ethnicity but found that a number of factors including, comorbidities and cesarean birth did not fully explain the disparities in severe maternal morbidity.

Country‐Level Gender Equality and Adolescents’ Contraceptive Use in Europe, Canada and Israel: Findings from 33 Countries

Although research has supported the link between birth control usage and gender equality in adults, more information is needed to see whether this association persists among young people. This study looked at 33 countries, including Canada, and found that while there is also a connection for young people, it’s not yet clear how gender equality and adolescent contraceptive use influence one another.