The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing the decision of lesbian victims of domestic violence to call or not to call the police.

Sexual health is an important component to overall well-being and quality of life. Yet so much of sexual health research is focused solely on the negative consequences of sexuality, such as unintended pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Recently, the need for a positive, health promotion focused framework for research and understanding sexual health has received attention, including from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This transition of public health research and practice from a disease-based framework to a positive, health promotion framework necessitates exploring what factors are associated with positive sexuality and how it is experienced. This study contributed to fulfilling this need. This study focused on healthy sexuality in young college women. Specifically, this study sought to explore what young women find sexually satisfying in different types of sexual relationships (e.g., casual and committed partners). Next, this study identified variables that are important to the healthy sexuality of young college women, including sexual self-concept, communication with sexual partners, sexual satisfaction, and condom use. Lastly, this study aimed to understand the statistical relationship between these variables. This was a two-phase mixed methods study. Phase one consisted of thirty face to face individual interviews with college women aged 18-25 years, and took place in the fall semester of 2011 and the spring semester 2012 at a large public urban university located in the southeastern United States. Phase two took place in the spring semester 2012 and consisted of an online quantitative survey measuring sexual self-concept, communication with partners, sexual satisfaction and condom use. Analyses for the quantitative data included bivariate correlations and structural equation modeling. Qualitative results indicated that these young college women experienced sexual satisfaction with both committed and casual sexual partners, although they identified different reasons why each type of partnership was satisfying. Specifically, the emotional connection and comfort felt with committed relationship partners made sex satisfaction. With more casual or uncommitted partners, these women identified the benefits of maintaining their freedom and not having an obligation to another person. These young women shared their thoughts on how sex could be more satisfying for women and they indicated that communicating sexual desires and needs to partners as one of the most important factors. The quantitative portion of this study found that sexual self-concept was directly positively associated with communication with sexual partners (B=1.45, 95% CI=1.05 1.84, beta=.72), and directly positively related to sexual satisfaction (B=.49, 95% CI= .70, 2.35, beta=.49). Communication with partners was associated with lower discrepancies between wanted and experienced sexual activities (B=-3.96, 95% CI=-4.96, -2.95, beta=-.41). For respondents reporting on committed partnerships, communication with partners was directly related to higher sexual satisfaction (B=.74, 95% CI=.17, 1.32, beta=.43). For those reporting on casual sexual partners, communication was related to sexual satisfaction only through lower sexual activity discrepancy scores (B=.07, 95% CI=.01, .13, beta=.04). Overall the findings from this study suggest that communicating with casual sexual partners impacts sexual satisfaction partially through decreasing the discrepancies between wanted and experienced sexual activities. However, for committed partners, discrepancies were not significantly related to sexual satisfaction, directly or indirectly, although communication was directly associated with sexual satisfaction. This suggests that communication is impacting sexual satisfaction through a different mechanism for committed partners than casual partners. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the positive sexuality literature, which is currently still in its infancy. This study has implications for public health practice in the improvement of health promotion/sex education programs. This study identified sexual self-concept and communication between partners as important factors for achieving authentic sexual experiences. The implications of this study for public health research include the identification of variables important to understanding women's experience of positive sexuality. Specifically, this study found sexual self-concept to be important to communication and sexual satisfaction, and identified communication as important for both risk reduction (e.g., condom use) and sexual health promotion (e.g., sexual satisfaction).

Marriages in South Africa in today’s times were found to be in a critical situation. Statistics have proven that most marriages end in divorce within the first five years of marriage. Although marital preparation and enrichment courses are available in South Africa, no specific course exists that is specifically designed for the needs of young married Afrikaans speaking couples. On the grounds of available information it was decided to determine the needs of young Afrikaans speaking married couples whom are married for 1-5 years. By doing this it will enable us to design a marital enrichment programme that will focus on their specific needs. Young married couples will be encouraged to attend marital enrichment programmes. It will assist the couple not to be overwhelmed by the difficult adjustments married life brings and will provide for positive growth within their relationship. It is encouraging to note that all couples who participated in the research previously attended marital enrichment and/or preparation courses and they all acknowledged that it made a positive contribution to their marriage life. The greatest need that is currently not addressed by marital courses is “The different phases within the marital relationship”. Most couples indicated that they had difficult times during the adjustment phase and specifically after the birth of their first child. Most couples indicated that they are still interested in continuous enrichment to ensure growth and development within their relationship. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Marriages in South Africa in today’s times were found to be in a critical situation. Statistics have proven that most marriages end in divorce within the first five years of marriage. Although marital preparation and enrichment courses are available in South Africa, no specific course exists that is specifically designed for the needs of young married Afrikaans speaking couples. On the grounds of available information it was decided to determine the needs of young Afrikaans speaking married couples whom are married for 1-5 years. By doing this it will enable us to design a marital enrichment programme that will focus on their specific needs. Young married couples will be encouraged to attend marital enrichment programmes. It will assist the couple not to be overwhelmed by the difficult adjustments married life brings and will provide for positive growth within their relationship. It is encouraging to note that all couples who participated in the research previously attended marital enrichment and/or preparation courses and they all acknowledged that it made a positive contribution to their marriage life. The greatest need that is currently not addressed by marital courses is “The different phases within the marital relationship”. Most couples indicated that they had difficult times during the adjustment phase and specifically after the birth of their first child. Most couples indicated that they are still interested in continuous enrichment to ensure growth and development within their relationship. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Syftet med denna uppsats är att utifrån ett transperspektiv förstå hur transpersoners kön och sexualitet förhålls till varandra utifrån kropp, tid och partners. Studiens material består av intervjuer med tre olika transpersoner om deras könsidentitet, sexuella läggning och transerfarenheter. Som teoretiskt ramverk står Judith Butlers Gender Trouble som exempel på queerteori, samt Jay Prossers Second Skins som exempel på transteori. Resultatet av studien är att subjekts identitet och begär står i relation till varandra samt att transpersoners antagna eller aktiva gränsöverskridanden gör att de som subjekt kan erfara denna relation med större tydlighet och över flera kategorier, med kropp, tid och partners som tydligast exempel.

Alcohol use during pregnancy can damage the fetus. Midwives at antenatal care (ANC) screen pregnant women for risk drinking in early pregnancy. There are however, no routines involving both parents-to-be in a dialogue about alcohol. The aim of this thesis is to investigate alcohol use among pregnant women and their partners and to evaluate a method for midwives’ dialogue about alcohol in a life cycle perspective with both parents-to-be. Study I was a quasi-experiment within ANC. An intervention group (IG) received counseling with the midwife about alcohol use. The IG (238 couples) and a comparison group (271 couples) filled out questionnaires in early and in late pregnancy about alcohol use and support for an alcohol-free pregnancy. Study II was a cross-sectional study where 444 partners of pregnant women filled out a questionnaire at ANC about alcohol use, motives for decreased drinking and their perception about the midwives’ counseling about alcohol. Alcohol consumption was low among the pregnant women. One third (30 %) had decreased alcohol use before pregnancy and 90% stopped drinking after pregnancy confirmation. Of the partners, 24 % decreased alcohol use before pregnancy and 40 % decreased during pregnancy. Around 90 % of the women received support for an alcohol-free pregnancy, compared to 37 % of the partners. Twenty per cent of partners and 25 % of pregnant women reported alcoholism in their family. Partners who had alcoholism in the family drank more than partners without this experience. A majority, 95 %, of the partners in study II used alcohol, 29 % were binge drinking on a normal drinking day and 74 % were binge drinking occasionally. Most partners appreciated the counseling about alcohol and reported various motives for decreased alcohol consumption. Many pregnant women and partners decreased alcohol consumption in transition to parenthood, which is a crucial time for changing alcohol-drinking patterns. Involving both parents-to-be in counseling about alcohol restrictions during pregnancy may be a useful health promotion strategy.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly occurring sexually transmitted infection and is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. The progression from HPV infection to cervical cancer is incompletely understood. Innate immune response to HPV infection has recently been identified as a potential cofactor in this progression. This study examined potential association(s) between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and HPV infection. HPV concordance was estimated among heterosexual couples demonstrating the complexity of HPV infection.Methods: HPV concordance was cross-sectionally estimated in 29 heterosexual couples. A polymerase chain reaction based assay for KIR genotyping was developed and validated. 283 women from the Young Women's Health Study and 259 men from the HPV Infection in Men: A Prospective Cohort Study had HPV infection data and samples available for KIR genotyping. Associations between KIR genotype and haplotype with HPV prevalence, incidence and clearance were assessed.Results: Among 29 couples, prevalence for any HPV type was comparable between women 86.2% and men, 75.9%. Partial concordance was observed in 66% of the couples. Forty-one percent (41%) of couples had perfect concordance. A high degree of concordance was observed, however HPV type distributions differed in men and women. In women from the YWHS, KIR2DS5 was significantly associated with oncogenic HPV prevalence (Odds ratio [OR]: 0.56, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.31-0.99). Any HPV incidence was significantly associated with KIR2DL2 (Hazards Ratio [HR]: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.0-4.44), KIR2DS2 (HR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.13-5.24), KIR2DS3 (HR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.16-4.81), and KIR haplotype B (HR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.02-6.02). Women lacking KIR2DS5 had an increased risk of any HPV acquisition in the presence of KIR2DL2 (HR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.28-6.86), KIR2DS2 (HR: 3.33, 1.39-7.99), or KIR2DS3 (2.77, 95% CI: 1.24-6.19). In Men, KIR2DS3 was significantly associated with increased probability of any HPV clearance (HR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.04-3.49).Conclusions: This research contributes to our understanding of HPV infection dynamics through the assessment HPV type concordance in sexual partners. Additionally, through the development of an assay for KIR genotyping, we were able to identify associations with KIR gene positivity and HPV prevalence, incidence, and clearance in men and women.

SOX9 est un facteur de transcription à domaine HMG. Il est impliqué dans de multiples processus biologiques au cours du développement et de la vie adulte. En particulier, SOX9 joue un rôle important dans l'homéostasie de l'épithélium intestinal. Nous avons montré que SOX9, cible positive de la voie de signalisation oncogénique Wnt/(beta)-caténine, réprime l'expression de PKC(alpha). Cette répression implique un nouveau mécanisme d'action qui ne nécessite ni la fixation du domaine HMG à l'ADN ni le domaine de transactivation de SOX9. Nous avons également identifié MiniSOX9, un nouveau variant d'épissage de SOX9, résultant de la rétention du second intron. MiniSOX9 est fortement exprimé dans les tumeurs coliques. Il agit en tant que dominant négatif de SOX9, inhibiteur de l'expression du suppresseur de tumeurs PKC(alpha) et activateur de la voie de signalisation oncogénique Wnt/(beta)-caténine. Nos données suggèrent ainsi un rôle primordial de MiniSOX9 dans la tumorigenèse intestinale. Enfin, notre étude protéomique des partenaires de SOX9 et de MiniSOX9 permet d'ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives quant aux rôles de ces deux protéines dans l'homéostasie et la tumorigenèse intestinale / SOX9 is an HMG transcription factor involved in numerous biological processes during development and adult life. It plays an important role especially in the intestinal epithelium homeostasis. In the present study, we demonstrate that SOX9, a positive target of the oncogenic signaling pathway Wnt/(beta)-catenin, represses PKC(alpha) expression. This repression involves a new mechanism of action requiring neither HMG domain binding to DNA nor the transactivation domain of SOX9. We also report the discovery of MiniSOX9, a new SOX9 splice variant, resulting from the second intron retention. MiniSOX9 is highly expressed in colon tumors. It acts as a SOX9 dominant negative, as a repressor of the expression of the tumor suppressor PKC(alpha), and as an activator of the oncogenic signaling pathway Wnt/(beta)-catenin. Our data suggest a crucial role of MiniSOX9 in intestinal tumorigenesis. Finally, a proteomic analysis allowed us to identify potential new SOX9 and MiniSOX9 partners which will be useful to decipher the roles of these two proteins in intestinal homeostasis and tumorigenesis

Introduction HIV remains a severe global health problem. The Republic of Chad is moderately affected (1.3%), compared to Cameroon who suffers more of the burden of the HIV/AIDS (4.5%). We described the HIV risk factors in two neighboring Central African Republics, and compared the gaps in both countries. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study; data was obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey. A stratified multi-stage cluster sample design was conducted. The sample size was 5248 in Chad and 7191 in Cameroon. We used SAS to fit a multilevel logistic model, and conducted a multivariate analysis. Results The median age of respondents was 30 (IQR, 20-40) years in Chad, and 28 (IQR, 20-40) in Cameroon. Only 12.45% reported had ever been tested for HIV in Chad, (41.77% in Cameroon). In Chad, 46.40% of participants did not know a place to get HIV test, (11.15% in Cameroon). The median number of lifetime sexual partners was 2 (IQR, 1-4) in Chad, and 6 (IQR, 3-15) in Cameroon. Among Chadian participants 31.63% had only one lifetime sexual partner, (10.76% in Cameroon). In Chad 86.95% of participants reported having no sex partner other than their spouse in the last 12 months; (57.3% in Cameroon). Conclusion Condom use and HIV testing rates were very low among Chadian men comparing to Cameroonian men; however, Cameroonian men were more likely to engage in multiple sexual partners and extra-marital relationship than Chadian men.

Bakgrund Amning minskar i Sverige liksom i flera andra länder, både i tidslängd och omfattning. Detta trots positiva effekter för både mor och barn. Personal inom mödra- och barnhälsovårdens har som uppgift att främja amning. Forskning visar att en positiv attityd till amning gynnar amningen som spädbarnsuppfödning.  Därför finns det anledning att undersöka blivande mödrars tankar om amning. Syftet med studien var att beskriva hur gravida förstföderskor uppfattar fenomenet amning. Metoden som användes var en kvalitativ studie där semi-strukturerade intervjuer användes för datainsamling. Totalt deltog 10 kvinnor i studien. Dataanalysen gjordes med fenomenografisk analysmetod. Resultatet: Gravida förstföderskors uppfattning av fenomenet amning var att det är en naturlig process vid barnafödande. De uppfattade amning som ett självklart val före någon annan uppfödningsmetod. Ett eget val av kvinnorna som inte påverkades av omgivningen. Partnerns betydelse är viktig för kvinnan, då hon förväntar sig dennes stöd. Kvinnorna reflekterar över amning när andra ser, offentlig amning, men detta är inget hinder i hennes val att amma. Konklusion: Resultatet visar att kvinnorna uppfattar amning som något naturligt de själva valt att göra. De upplevde att partnern var ett viktigt stöd. Kvinnorna hade reflekterat över amning när andra är närvarande då detta var något som uppmärksammats mycket i media. / Background: Breastfeeding decreases in Sweden as in many others countries, both in duration and scope. Thus despite the positive effects it has for both mothers and child. Midwives and nurses will promote breastfeeding. Evidence shows that a positive attitude towards breastfeeding will patronize this as infantfeeding. Therefore, there is reason to identify how expectant mothers think about breastfeeding. Aim: To describe pregnant primigravidas perceives the phenomenon of breastfeeding. Method: A qualitative study with phenomenographic analysis was used. Semistructured interviews were performed to collect data. 10 women were interviewed. Results: Pregnant primigravidas perception of the phenomenon of breastfeeding is that it´s a natural process of childbirth. They consider it as the best choice as infantfeeding. Their choice where not influenced by the surroundings, it were the women's own decision. Partner's role where important for the woman when she was expecting his support. The woman's reflected upon breastfeeding when other see, public breastfeeding, but this where no obstacle in her choice to breastfeed. Conclusion: The result showed that the women perceive breastfeeding as a natural choice that they themselves have chosen to use as infantfeeding. They felt that their partner where an important support. The women consider about breastfeeding in public something that attracted much attention in media.