This thesis considers how in the course of their work female sex workers in Hong Kong experience risk. It concerns the indoor side of the sex market, an area which has so far been largely ignored in studies on commercial sex. The focus is on women working independently from flats. Focusing on women's own accounts of work-related risks, risky behaviour and coping strategies, this study investigates sex workers' reflexive understandings of prostitution and their occupational risk in late modern societies. The study emphasises the social, cultural, interactional and situational context, to understand the ways in which women involved in sex work conceptualise and respond to risk. There are three main themes emerge in sex workers' accounts. The first one is sexual health and diseases. In this empirical chapter, the main focus is on the flat-working women's accounts of themselves and their risk-taking (or risk-avoiding) behaviour in (potentially) risky situations, where, for example, unprotected sex has occurred. The findings suggest that, despite sex workers are being frequently seen as most susceptible to sexual health problems, the social norms which exist among sex workers and their clients play a crucial role in enabling sex workers to gain control over the sexual encounter and avoid risk behaviour. The next theme is violence against sex workers. Findings suggest that what violent crime symbolises in the context of sex work is that some women are beneath contempt because of their working identity. It is more “acceptable” to perpetrate violence against sex workers because this group is set apart from women in other service occupations. The last theme is concerned with sex workers' accounts of their emotional experiences at work, which mainly explores how social and cultural factors influence individuals' interpretation and accounts of their emotions. Accounts given by women demonstrate that many of them seemingly did not conceive their involvement in the sex business as “wrong”. Nevertheless, because sex work is still largely marginalised and stigmatised in Chinese societies, they might experience unpleasant emotions which were mostly related to the “whore” stigma.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is the most common form of vulvodynia affecting 12% of pre-menopausal women in the general population. It is commonly described as a sharp or burning pain at the entrance of the vagina in response to contact or pressure to the vulvar vestibule. PVD has negative impacts on sexual functioning, relationship adjustment, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life. Studies suggest that increased muscle tension in the pelvic floor of women with PVD may play an important role in maintaining and exacerbating their pain. Despite this finding, no prospective studies of pelvic floor physiotherapy (PFP) for PVD have been carried out. The purpose of the current study was to prospectively examine the effectiveness of a comprehensive PFP intervention in treating the physical and psychosexual components of PVD. Thirteen women with PVD completed 8 sessions of PFP. Women were assessed at pre- and post-treatment via gynecological examinations, vestibular pain threshold testing, structured interviews and standardized questionnaires measuring pain variables (pain during intercourse, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index), cognitive variables (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale-20, coping strategies), and sexual function (frequency of intercourse, Female Sexual Function Index). To-date, ten women have also completed a 3-month follow-up interview. Results indicated that vestibular pain thresholds significantly increased from pre- to post-treatment, indicating reduced pain sensitivity. As compared with pre-treatment, women reported significant reductions in pain intensity during the gynecological examination and during intercourse. Women also significantly improved on measures of negative pain cognitions and various components of sexual function. There were no changes with respect to mental health or quality of life. The treatment was considered to be successful for 10 (77%) of the 13 women and treatment satisfaction was rated very high. Predictors of successful treatment outcome at the follow-up period were a longer period of time in treatment and decreases in pain catastrophizing and pain-related anxiety. Results provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of PFP in treating the physical and psychosexual components of PVD. These findings indicate the need for large-scale, randomized studies of the effectiveness of PFP in comparison and in conjunction with other treatment options. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-12 11:04:06.501

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Research has shown that college students understand the risks associated with risky sexual behavior, but make up to close to 50% of new STI cases every year. Previous research suggests that lower perceived susceptibility to negative consequences, extroversion, openness, and neuroticism are all related to risky sexual behavior. Three hypotheses are proposed. Hypothesis one proposes that men and women will have significantly different levels of perceived susceptibility. Hypothesis two proposes that perceived susceptibility, extroversion, openness, and neuroticism predict sexual risk taking. Finally, hypothesis three proposes that perceived susceptibility will be negatively correlated with sexual risk taking, whereas extroversion, openness, and neuroticism will be positively correlated with sexual risk taking. Hypothesis one was not supported, hypothesis two was supported, and hypothesis three was only partially supported. Future directions in safe sex education are suggested. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Since the early 20th Century, epidemiological research has brought benefits and burdens to Aboriginal communities in Canada. Many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit continue to view Western research with distrust; quantitative study methods are perceived as especially inconsistent with indigenous ways of knowing. There is increasing recognition, however, that rigorous epidemiological research can produce evidence that draws attention, and potentially resources, to pressing health issues in Aboriginal communities. The thesis begins by introducing a framework for culturally safe epidemiology, from the identification of research priorities, through fieldwork and analysis, to communication and use of evidence. Drawing on a sexual health research initiative with Inuit in Ottawa as a case study, the thesis examines cognitive mapping as a promising culturally safe method to reviewing indigenous knowledge. Juxtaposing this approach with a systematic review of the literature, the standard protocol to reviewing Western scientific knowledge, the thesis demonstrates the potential for cognitive mapping to identify culturally safe spaces in epidemiological research where neither scientific validity nor cultural integrity is compromised. Modern epidemiology and indigenous knowledge are not inherently discordant; many public health opportunities arise at this interface and good science must begin here too.

This thesis is a qualitative study investigating the communication about sexual health between HIV-positive gay men and their doctors and other health care providers. The study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with eleven HIV-positive gay men, and analysed according to a modified grounded theory approach. The study aims to explore the men??s needs, expectations and experiences in relation to how sexual health is addressed in clinical consultations. While previous research has documented that HIV/AIDS is a diagnosis that poses significant physical, emotional and social challenges for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) which may impact on their sexual health and well-being, this thesis examines whether, and to what extent this is communicated between HIV-positive gay men and their doctors. In doing so the study identifies and describes the ways in which HIV-positive gay men understand sexual health, how they currently talk to their clinicians about sexual health issues, the priority that such issues have for these men, and barriers and ??incentives?? to sexual health being discussed within HIV treatment settings. The study reveals that the men??s communication about sexual health with their doctors is essentially limited to discussions about sexually transmissible infections (STIs), which represent a common understanding of what constitutes sexual health. The emotional and social aspects of sexual health and well-being are rarely discussed in doctor-patient communication. Instead, the men rely on sources outside the health system, such as friends, peers, partners, gay and HIV community organizations and the gay and HIV media for sexual health information, advice and support. This indicates that broad, holistic sexual health has a low priority in discussions between patients and their doctors, and that social networks therefore play an important role in how HIV-positive gay men take care of their sexual health.

This thesis is a qualitative study investigating the communication about sexual health between HIV-positive gay men and their doctors and other health care providers. The study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with eleven HIV-positive gay men, and analysed according to a modified grounded theory approach. The study aims to explore the men??s needs, expectations and experiences in relation to how sexual health is addressed in clinical consultations. While previous research has documented that HIV/AIDS is a diagnosis that poses significant physical, emotional and social challenges for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) which may impact on their sexual health and well-being, this thesis examines whether, and to what extent this is communicated between HIV-positive gay men and their doctors. In doing so the study identifies and describes the ways in which HIV-positive gay men understand sexual health, how they currently talk to their clinicians about sexual health issues, the priority that such issues have for these men, and barriers and ??incentives?? to sexual health being discussed within HIV treatment settings. The study reveals that the men??s communication about sexual health with their doctors is essentially limited to discussions about sexually transmissible infections (STIs), which represent a common understanding of what constitutes sexual health. The emotional and social aspects of sexual health and well-being are rarely discussed in doctor-patient communication. Instead, the men rely on sources outside the health system, such as friends, peers, partners, gay and HIV community organizations and the gay and HIV media for sexual health information, advice and support. This indicates that broad, holistic sexual health has a low priority in discussions between patients and their doctors, and that social networks therefore play an important role in how HIV-positive gay men take care of their sexual health.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-132). Also available on the World Wide Web.