Dataset Information

Social Network Clustering of Sexual Violence Experienced by Adolescent Girls.

ABSTRACT: We used data on 3,139 female social network friendship dyads from 3 waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (wave I: 1994-1995; wave II: 1996; and wave IV: 2007-2008) to assess whether friends' reports of experiencing sexual violence (SV) and friends' substance use risk scores predicted whether adolescents and young adults would experience SV themselves. We also used longitudinal analyses to test the associations of combined wave-I and -II risk factors with wave-IV reports of SV and of combined wave-I and -II SV with network connectivity at wave II. After adjustment for a participant's substance use risk score, each 1-point increase in a friend's substance use risk score increased a respondent's odds of experiencing SV by 1.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.03, 1.36). Having a friend who reported SV increased a respondent's odds of reporting SV by 1.95 (95% confidence interval: 1.25, 3.07), although not after we included school-level fixed effects. Having a friend who experienced SV in adolescence did however increase the respondent's odds of reporting SV as a young adult by 1.54 (95% confidence interval: 1.00, 2.37). Respondents who reported SV by wave II had less network connectedness at wave II. Experiences of SV and substance use within adolescent girls' friendship networks are linked to risk for SV into young adulthood, which suggests that network-focused SV prevention and intervention approaches may be warranted.

SUBMITTER: Shakya HB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5860144 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Social Network Clustering of Sexual Violence Experienced by Adolescent Girls.

Shakya Holly B HB Fariss Christopher J CJ Ojeda Christopher C Raj Anita A Reed Elizabeth E

American journal of epidemiology 20171001 7

We used data on 3,139 female social network friendship dyads from 3 waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (wave I: 1994-1995; wave II: 1996; and wave IV: 2007-2008) to assess whether friends' reports of experiencing sexual violence (SV) and friends' substance use risk scores predicted whether adolescents and young adults would experience SV themselves. We also used longitudinal analyses to test the associations of combined wave-I and -II risk factors with wave-IV ...[more]

PMID: 28525565

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Project description:BackgroundUnintended pregnancy has dire consequences on the health and socioeconomic wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) (aged 15-24 years). While most studies tend to focus on lack of access to contraceptive information and services, and poverty as the main contributing factor to early-unintended pregnancies, the influence of sexual violence has received limited attention. Understanding the link between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy is critical towards developing a multifaceted intervention to reduce unintended pregnancies among AGYW in South Africa, a country with high teenage pregnancy rate. Thus, we estimated the magnitude of unintended pregnancy among AGYW and also examined the effect of sexual violence on unintended pregnancy.MethodsOur study adopted a cross-sectional design, and data were obtained from AGYW in a South African university between June and November 2018. A final sample of 451 girls aged 17-24 years, selected using stratified sampling, were included in the analysis. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression analysis to examine the effect of sexual violence on unintended pregnancy.ResultsThe analysis shows that 41.9% of all respondents had experienced an unintended pregnancy, and 26.3% of those unintended pregnancies ended in abortions. Unintended pregnancy was higher among survivors of sexual violence (54.4%) compared to those who never experienced sexual abuse (34.3%). In the multivariable analysis, sexual violence was consistently and robustly associated with increased odds of having an unintended pregnancy (AOR:1.70; 95% CI: 1.08-2.68).ConclusionOur study found a huge magnitude of unintended pregnancy among AGYW. Sexual violence is an important predictor of unintended pregnancy in this age cohort. Thus, addressing unintended pregnancies among AGYW in South Africa requires interventions that not only increase access to contraceptive information and services but also reduce sexual violence and cater for survivors.

Project description:PURPOSE:This study investigates the relationship between adolescent girls' agency and social norms regarding early marriage, girls' education, and nutrition in West Hararghe, Ethiopia. METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional study involving adolescent girls aged between 13 and 17 years in 2016. A two-stage cluster sampling procedure was followed to identify eligible respondents at the household level. A total of 114 clusters in four districts and 30 households from each cluster were randomly selected. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire. The agency composite score was measured based on 21 previously validated items. Descriptive and injunctive norm composite scores regarding education, marriage, and nutrition were constructed based on context-relevant items. The weighted mean and standard errors were calculated for the agency and social norms composite scores. The relationship between girls' agency and descriptive and injunctive norms were examined using a multivariable linear regression model that accounted for a complex sample survey design. RESULTS:A total of 3,186 adolescent girls participated in this study. The multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that adolescent girls' agency score significantly and favorably associated with education (? = .19, p < .001), marriage (? = .13, p < .01), and nutrition (? = .20, p < .01) descriptive norms after adjusting for individual and household characteristics. Similarly, adolescent girls' agency was significantly and favorably associated with marriage (? = .21, p < .001) injunctive norms; however, positive injunctive norms around education (? = .09, p > .05) and nutrition (? = .12, p > .05) did not have a statistically significant association with girls' agency. The domains of agency scale related to the belief in women's health rights related to contraception use and the belief in women's right to refuse sex showed poor prosocial views. CONCLUSIONS:Favorable descriptive and injunctive norms around marriage were significantly associated with greater adolescent girls' agency, which indicates the need to incorporate interventions that address social norms in efforts aimed to enhance adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive health status. Furthermore, attention should be given to monitor which domain of agency is improved by the interventions.

Project description:BackgroundEffective sex education is the key to good sexual health. Peer-led approaches can augment teacher-delivered sex education, but many fail to capitalise on mechanisms of social influence. We assessed the feasibility of a novel intervention (STASH) in which students (aged 14-16) nominated as influential by their peers were recruited and trained as Peer Supporters (PS). Over a 5-10-week period, they spread positive sexual health messages to friends in their year group, both in-person and via social media, and were supported to do so via weekly trainer-facilitated meetings. The aims of the study were to assess the feasibility of STASH (acceptability, fidelity and reach), to test and refine the programme theory and to establish whether the study met pre-set progression criteria for continuation to larger-scale evaluation.MethodsThe overall design was a non-randomised feasibility study of the STASH intervention in 6 schools in Scotland. Baseline (n=680) and follow-up questionnaires (approx. 6 months later; n=603) were administered to the intervention year group. The control group (students in year above) completed the follow-up questionnaire only (n=696), 1 year before the intervention group. The PS (n=88) completed a brief web survey about their experience of the role; researchers interviewed participants in key roles (PS (n=20); PS friends (n=22); teachers (n=8); trainers (n=3)) and observed 20 intervention activities. Activity evaluation forms and project monitoring data also contributed information. We performed descriptive quantitative analysis and thematic qualitative analysis.ResultsThe PS role was acceptable; on average across schools >50% of students nominated as influential by their friends, signed up and were trained (n=104). This equated to 13% of the year group. Trained PS rarely dropped out (97% completion rate) and 85% said they liked the role. Fidelity was good (all bar one trainer-led activity carried out; PS were active). The intervention had good reach; PS were reasonably well connected and perceived as 'a good mix' and 58% of students reported exposure to STASH. Hypothesised pre-conditions, contextual influences and mechanisms of change for the intervention were largely confirmed. All bar one of the progression criteria was met.ConclusionThe weight of evidence supports continuation to full-scale evaluation.Trial registrationCurrent controlled trials ISRCTN97369178.

Dataset Information

Social Network Clustering of Sexual Violence Experienced by Adolescent Girls.

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Social Network Clustering of Sexual Violence Experienced by Adolescent Girls.

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