Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the recognized main reason for developing cervical cancer. HPV vaccine given to females is the most effective prevention. Purpose: To investigate knowledge and beliefs about HPV, cervical cancer and HPV vaccine among young Thai females in north-eastern part of Thailand. Further, to discover potential differences between those stating having knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer (group SHK), and those stating not having knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer (group SNHK). Method: A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire about knowledge and beliefs of HPV where 221 young Thai females, aged 18-21, participated. Orem’s self-care theory was used as theoretical framework. Result: Less than 50 % of the participants knew about visible signs and symptoms of HPV infection. However, over 70 % had knowledge regarding HPV´s relation to sexual activity. Internet was the greatest source of information about HPV. Participants had positive belief towards the vaccine and more than 95% wished to get vaccinated. Group SHK had more knowledge then group SNHK with significant difference in seven out of fourteen knowledge items, and showed more positive beliefs with significant difference in six out of sixteen belief statements. Conclusion: The overall level of knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer was insufficient. However, this did not affect the participant’s beliefs in the subject negatively. Health care should provide viable internet sites with information about HPV to ensure that young Thai females get requisites, enabling self-care on preventing HPV infections by vaccination. / Bakgrund: Humant Papillom Virus (HPV) är den erkänt främsta orsaken till livmoderhalscancer. Vaccinering av unga kvinnor är den erkänt mest effektiva preventionen. Syfte: Att undersöka kunskap och åsikter om HPV, livmoderhalscancer och HPV vaccin bland unga thailändska kvinnor i nordöstra Thailand. Vidare, att undersöka om det fanns några skillnader mellan dem som säger sig ha kunskap om HPV och livmoderhalscancer (grupp SHK) och de som säger sig inte ha någon kunskap om HPV och livmoderhalscancer (grupp SNHK). Metod: En tvärsnittsstudie med ett frågeformulär om kunskap och åsikter om HPV som 221 unga thailändska kvinnor, i åldern 18-21, besvarade. Dorotea Orems omvårdnadsteori användes som teoretisk ram. Resultat: Mindre än 50 % av deltagarna hade kunskap om symtom av en HPV infektion. Över 70 % hade kunskap om HPV och dess relation till sexuell aktivitet. Största källan för information om HPV var internet. Deltagarna hade positiva åsikter inför vaccinet, mer än 95 % skulle vilja vaccinera sig. Grupp SHK hade mer kunskap än grupp SNHK med signifikant skillnad i sju av fjorton kunskapsämnen, och visade mer positiva åsikter med signifikant skillnad i sex av sexton påståenden rörande åsikter. Slutsats: Nivån av kunskap rörande HPV och livmoderhalscancer är otillräcklig, men det påverkar inte unga thailändska kvinnors åsikter om HPV vaccin i negativ riktning. Hälso- och sjukvården bör erbjuda korrekta och trovärdiga websidor med information om HPV för att ge unga thailändska kvinnor de förutsättningar som krävs för egenvård i prevention av HPV infektion genom vaccinering.

Background: Alcohol has become ubiquitous in Swedish lifestyle blogs, as alcohol can be present in one third or one fifth of blog posts in some of Sweden’s biggest lifestyle blogs. Research suggests that exposure to media and commercial communications on alcohol increases consumption and that users and user-generated content related to alcohol and drinking may intensify social norms around alcohol consumption. This means Swedish lifestyle bloggers may be exposing alcohol and creating social normative influence that can affect blog readers’ intention to consume alcohol. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to explore if and how the presence of alcoholic beverages on Swedish blogs may affect young females’ intention to pursue alcohol consumption. Firstly, the study looks at to what extent and how alcoholic beverages and alcohol-related activities appear on Swedish lifestyle blogs. Secondly, the study explores if the presence of alcohol in blogs is recognised by blog readers and if they perceive this to affect their own and others' intention to consume alcohol. Method: This thesis has two different data collections to fulfil the purpose of the study. First a web content analysis is conducted on eight Swedish blogs to explore the presence of alcohol. Thereafter semi-structured interviews are conducted with nine respondents. The findings are compared to previous findings and analysed from theories on behavioural change. Conclusion: Alcohol and alcohol-related activities are depicted frequently in some of Sweden’s biggest lifestyle blogs when variation between blogs and monthly variance per blog are considered. Alcohol is put in a favourable setting through a positive or a commercial context. Blog readers perceive blog posts to contain positive alcohol content, and claim others may be affected to consume alcohol by these as bloggers have influence empowered by their social status. A majority of respondents claim they themselves are not affected by blog posts with alcohol. It is suggested this is because subjective attitude towards alcohol and a belief of personal control has stronger impact on intention to pursue alcohol-related activities. Another suggestion is that more salient and ready accessible referents such as parents, family and friends are deemed more important in affecting norms around alcohol through individuals’ perceived view of these referents’ desires and actions.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-02-08T10:24:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Andrea Alves Ribeiro - 2017.pdf: 3681565 bytes, checksum: ba070b3da33be6a596380c597c60ac22 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-02-08T10:24:49Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Andrea Alves Ribeiro - 2017.pdf: 3681565 bytes, checksum: ba070b3da33be6a596380c597c60ac22 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-08T10:24:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Andrea Alves Ribeiro - 2017.pdf: 3681565 bytes, checksum: ba070b3da33be6a596380c597c60ac22 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-25 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Sexually transmitted infections are considered (STIs) pose a major public health problem. Adolescents and young adults are more likely to get Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection for two main reasons: sexual behavior and biological vulnerability. Some risk factors such as parity and number of children as well as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection are co-factors associated with HPV infection responsible for precursor lesions and cervical cancer. OBJETIVE: Estimate the prevalence of HPV types and CT in adolescents and young adult females and to relate to the detection of cytological abnormalities, with sociodemographic and habits related to sexual risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 276 adolescents and young adult females sexually active aged 15-24 years. Conventional cytology was performed to detect HPV DNA by PCR using the primers PGMY09/PGMY11 and genotyping by reverse dot blot hybridization. Detection of CT was performed by PCR using primers directed to the region encoding the cryptic plasmid. The population was stratified into two age groups: Group I (15-19 years) and Group II (20-24 years). It was conducted univariate analysis considering a p <0.20 for inclusion in the multivariate analysis to calculate the odds ratio (OR), confidence interval of 95% and significance level of <0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of HPV infection was 47.1% (CI 95% 41.0–53.2). The HPV 16 was the most prevalent, present in 27.7% (36/129) of cases, followed by HPV 68 (8.5%; 11/130), HPV 52 (6.2 %; 8/130) e HPV 39 (4.6%; 6/130). The prevalence of HPV in the cytologic diagnosis of ASC-US was 66.7% in adolescents and 77.8% in young adult females. In diagnosis of LSIL HPV infection that present in 87.5% of adolescents and 75% of young adults females. The cytologic diagnosis of HSIL were detected only in adolescents with 100% prevalence of HPV infection. The total prevalence of CT infection was 9.1% (IC 95% 5.61–12.4). Among adolescents, the prevalence was 68% (17/25) and among young adults was 32% (8/25). The association with HPV infection related to behavioral and sociodemographic risk factors was statistically significant in the single marital status and had more than four sexual partners. Cytological abnormalities present among adolescents and young adults were associated with HPV and CT infection. CONCLUSION: HPV and CT infections are prevalent in adolescents and young adults, especially those with cytologic abnormalities. Sexual habits have a relationship with HPV infection, corroborating two of the risk factors for single marital status, the number of sexual partners. CT infection increases the risk for acquisition of cytologic abnormalities. / As infecções sexualmente transmissíveis são consideradas (ISTs) representam um grande problema de saúde pública. As adolescentes e adultas jovens estão mais susceptíveis a adquirem infecção pelo Papilomavírus humano (HPV), por dois motivos principais: o comportamento sexual e a vulnerabilidade biológica. Alguns Fatores de risco como, paridade e número de filhos, assim como infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) são cofatores associados à infecção pelo HPV responsáveis pelas lesões precursoras e câncer cervical. OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência de tipos de HPV e CT presentes em adolescentes e adultas jovens e relacionar com a detecção de anormalidades citológicas, com fatores de risco sóciodemográficos e relacionados aos hábitos sexuais. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Trata de um estudo de corte transversal, incluiu 276 adolescentes e adultas jovens sexualmente ativas com idade entre 15 a 24 anos. Foi realizada a citologia convencional, a detecção de DNA-HPV por PCR utilizando os primers PGMY09/PGMY11 e a genotipagem por hibridização reversa em pontos. Para a amplificação do DNA de CT foi usado o teste AMPLICOR CT/NG, um ensaio multiplex, qualitativo, que permite a amplificação do DNA de CT, de NG e do controle interno (CI) da reação, simultaneamente. A população foi estratificada em dois grupos etários: Grupo I (15 a 19 anos) e Grupo II (20 a 24 anos). Realizou-se a análise univariada considerando um p< 0,20 para a inclusão na análise multivariada com o cálculo do Odds Ratio (OR), intervalo de confiança de 95% e nível de significância < 0,05. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de infecção por HPV foi de 47,1% (IC 95% 41,0–53,2). O HPV 16, em infecções simples e múltiplas, foi o mais prevalente detectado em 27,7% (36/130) dos casos, seguido pelo HPV 68 (8,5%; 11/130), HPV 52 (6,2 %; 8/130) e HPV 39 (4,6%; 6/130). A prevalência de HPV nos diagnósticos citológicos de ASC-US foi de 66,7 % em adolescentes e 77,8% nas adultas jovens. Nos diagnósticos de LSIL a infecção pelo HPV este presente em 87,5% das adolescentes e 75% das adultas jovens. Os diagnósticos citológicos de HSIL foram detectados apenas nas adolescentes com 100% de prevalência de infecção por HPV. A prevalência total da infecção por CT foi de 9,1% (IC 95% 5,61–12,4). Entre as adolescentes a prevalência foi de 68% (17/25) e entre as adultas jovens foi de 32% (8/25). A associação infecção pelo HPV relacionada aos fatores de risco comportamentais e sociodemográficos, mostrou-se estatisticamente significante o estado civil solteira e possuir mais que quatro parceiros sexuais. As anormalidades citológicas presentes entre adolescentes e adultas jovens foram associadas quanto à infecção pelo HPV e por CT. CONCLUSÃO: Infecções por HPV e CT são prevalentes em adolescentes e adultas jovens, especialmente nas que apresentam anormalidades citológicas. Hábitos sexuais possuem uma relação com a infecção por HPV, corroborando dois dos fatores de risco o estado civil solteira, o número de parceiros sexuais. A infecção por CT aumenta o risco para aquisição das anormalidades citológicas.

"I can't stop raving" is a qualitative study based on five semi-structured interviews with young women who participate in the rave culture of Stockholm, Sweden. The study aimed to explore in what ways these women's experiences are characterised by safeness and worries. It identifies what risk and protective factors are prevalent in the environment, and what strategies these women employ to negotiate the risks. Proceeding from risk and resilience research, further focus lies on negotiative processes of risk versus pleasure, to understand what actions propel participation in rave culture. Judith Butler's theories on performativity and agency were employed as models to situate risk-taking as part of identity-making processes. The study results tell how the young participants sometimes experience worry in the environment, but also their awareness and resilient capacities towards the risks involved. The community experience within rave culture was further identified as a strategic protective factor, in the informants' pursuit of risk reduction. The study also identifies how Swedish political discourse on narcotics negatively impacts the participants' reliance on law enforcement and health services, even when facing explicit risk situations, indicating evident challenges for mainstream society to interact with rave culture and its participants. / ”I can’t stop raving” är en kvalitativ studie som bygger på fem semistrukturerade intervjuer med unga kvinnor som deltar i Stockholms ravekultur. Studien har syftat till att undersöka hur de unga kvinnorna upplevelser präglas av trygghet kontra oro. Vidare undersöktes vilka risk- och skyddsfaktorer som finns i miljön samt vilka strategier de unga kvinnorna använder sig av för att hantera riskerna. Studien utgår från risk- och resiliensforskning och förhandlingsprocesser mellan risk och njutning har satts i fokus för att förstå mekanismerna bakom ravedeltagandet. Judith Butlers teorier om performativitet och agentskap har använts som modell för att situera risktagandet som del av identitetsskapande processer. Studiens resultat visar på att de unga deltagarna ibland upplever oro i sammanhanget, men att det finns en riskmedvetenhet och resilienta egenskaper hos individerna. Den upplevda gemenskapen inom ravekulturen identifierades som en strategisk skyddsfaktor i informanternas strävan efter riskreducering. Studien identifierar även hur den samhälleliga diskursen om narkotika negativt påverkar deltagarnas tillit till myndigheter—även vid explicita risksituationer—vilket indikerar utmaningar för majoritetssamhället att bemöta ravekulturen och dess deltagare.

Influencers have been working with collaborations with different brands during a long period of time, the latest development in their career has been to launch their own brands without any intermediators. Previous studies have investigated influencers' own brands but there is still a knowledge gap between intention and behavior. To fill the gap about this subject it is relevant to further expand on the underlying drivers by expanding the variables to get a deeper understanding for the purchase intentions that drives purchase behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to get a deeper understanding of the drivers underlying young female followers' purchase intentions towards influencers' own brands in the category of beauty products. To answer this research purpose, the “Theory of Reasoned Action” has been used and through that a theoretical framework has been developed. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with young females (18 to 30 years old) living in Northern Sweden. The interview questions focused on the females shopping habits, attitudes, subjective norm, previous experiences and purchase intentions towards influencers' own brands. In order to analyze the data a thematic analysis was used. The interview respondents were divided into two groups depending on whether they have purchased a product from an influencer's own brand or not to be able to find out if there were any differences or similarities between them. The result showed that attitudes of influencers in general and subjective norms did not have a big impact on the participants' purchase intention towards influencers' own brands. However, attitudes towards influencers' own brands had an impact on purchase intention. More important factors were also their shopping habits and previous experience from influencer marketing.