HIV/STD Risk Among Young Expectant Fathers: Relationship Attachment & Transition

描述(由申请人提供)：男性在性风险和母婴健康领域的研究不足。男性在为人父母的年轻夫妇的健康和性决定中发挥的作用还没有得到充分的探讨。将男性纳入预防研究对于理解在人际环境中做出有关性行为、个人健康和家庭功能的决定至关重要。在拟议的研究中，我们将使用依恋理论的指导框架，考察年轻的准父亲及其怀孕的青春期伴侣从怀孕到为人父母的HIV/STI危险行为、关系质量和父母教养功能。由于许多性风险发生在浪漫关系的背景下，了解浪漫二人组的每个成员如何影响性风险行为，以及在重要的人生转变期间(例如，为人父母)关系的变化如何影响与艾滋病毒/性传播疾病风险相关的行为和生物结果，这是至关重要的。我们将在康涅狄格州的卫生诊所对年轻的怀孕父亲和他们怀孕的青少年伴侣(n=300对)进行多点纵向研究，以检验这些问题。数据将通过音频计算机辅助自访(ACASI)和每半年一次的性病检测来收集。无论夫妻关系如何，这两个成员都将在三个时间点接受评估：怀孕第三个月、产后6个月和产后12个月。因此，我们可以评估年轻男女在夫妻内部和新伙伴关系中的性风险行为。这项研究的结果可以促进理论发展，并提供经验信息，以加强目前和未来预防艾滋病毒和其他青年男女性传播疾病的干预措施。此外，这些成果将为以夫妻为基础的干预措施提供信息，这些干预措施的重点是维持关系和加强家庭，以及在压力和过渡时期预防艾滋病毒。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Men are understudied in the area of sexual risk and maternal-child health. The role men play in the health and sexual decisions of young couples transitioning to parenthood has not been fully explored. The inclusion of men in prevention research is essential to understanding the interpersonal context in which decisions are made about sexual behavior, personal health, and family functioning. In the proposed research, using the guiding framework of attachment theory we will examine HIV/STI risk behavior, relationship quality, and parenting functioning for young expectant fathers and their pregnant adolescent partners from pregnancy to parenthood. Since much of sexual risk occurs in the context of romantic relationships, it is essential to understand how each member of a romantic dyad influence sexual risk behavior, and how changes in relationships during important life transitions (e.g. parenthood) influence behavioral and biological outcomes associated with HIV/STD risk. We will examine these issues in a multi- site longitudinal study of young expectant fathers and their pregnant adolescent partners (n=300 dyads) to be conducted in health clinics in Connecticut. Data will be collected through Audio Computer Assisted Self- Interview (ACASI) and semi-annual STD testing. Both members of the dyad will be assessed at three time points regardless of relationship status: during 3rd trimester of pregnancy, 6-months postpartum, and 12 months postpartum. Therefore, we can assess sexual risk behavior within couples and across new partnerships for both young men and women. The results of this study can promote theoretical development and provide empirical information to enhance current and future interventions to prevent HIV, and other STDs for both young men and women. In addition, results will inform couple-based interventions that focus on relationship maintenance and family strengthening as well as HIV prevention during times of stress and transition.