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This study examined the psychosocial problems of a sample of adolescent women who presented for a pregnancy termination appointment at a family planning clinic located in the southeastern region of the United States. The sample consisted of 120 adolescent women, age 14-21 who were administered the Multidimensional Adolescent Assessment Scale (MAAS) while waiting for their pregnancy termination procedure. The MAAS is a self-administered instrument with multiple subscales that measure a variety of psychosocial problems. Results indicated that most subjects did not score in the clinical range on the various subscales, thus indicating respondents as overall being stable and healthy. This paper reviews the specific findings from the study and discusses implications for practice and future research directions on this understudied population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a secondary data analysis of contraceptive use across the lifetime and within the six months prior to incarceration in a sample of 400 currently incarcerated women recruited from rural, Appalachian jails, who were using drugs prior to incarceration. Phase 1 (baseline) data from an NIH funded study were used to examine rates of contraceptive use, reasons for nonuse of condoms, and correlates of condom use. Results indicate that the majority (96.5%) of respondents reported lifetime use of contraceptives, and most (70.5%) had a history of using multiple methods, with male condoms, oral contraceptive pills, and contraceptive injections being the most commonly used methods. Almost 69% of respondents reported nonuse of contraceptives within the last six months, despite high rates of involvement in risky, intimate male partnerships prior to incarceration. Contraceptive use was found to be historically acceptable in this sample, in stark contrast to rates of use within the last six months prior to incarceration, suggesting that reproductive justice-informed, social work interventions to help improve current contraceptive use are warranted as a harm-reduction approach.

The results of a secondary data analysis of 3,999 administrative cases from a national abortion fund, representing patients who received pledges for financial assistance to pay for an abortion from 2010 to 2015, are presented. Case data from the fund's national call center was analyzed to assess the impact of the fund and examine sample demographics which were compared to the demographics of national abortion patients. Procedure costs, patient resources, funding pledges, additional aid, and changes over time in financial pledges for second-trimester procedures were also examined. Results indicate that the fund sample differed from national abortion patients in that fund patients were primarily single, African American, and seeking funding for second trimester abortions. Patients were also seeking to fund expensive procedures, costing an average of over $2,000; patients were receiving over $1,000 per case in pledges and other aid; and funding pledges for second trimester procedures were increasing over time. Abortion funding assistance is essential for women who are not able to afford abortion costs, and it is particularly beneficial for patients of color and those who are younger and single. Repeal of policy banning public funding of abortion would help to eliminate financial barriers that impede abortion access.

This article describes a community-based Patient Navigation (PN) project conducted to identify potential barriers to seeking follow-up cervical cancer care in southeastern Kentucky. Patient navigators (PNs) were placed in cervical cancer programs within county public health departments where they interviewed patients about their perceived barriers to seeking follow-up care after receiving a positive Pap test result. Participants identified various potential barriers at three levels: the individual/personal level, the health care system level and the community/environmental level. One identified barrier that was unique to this study was a lack of consistency between follow-up recommendations and follow-up guidelines for patients under age 21. Implications are discussed.

The purpose of the current study was to examine social work student attitudes toward the social work profession's perspective on certain aspects of reproductive health in the United States: contraception, emergency contraception, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Students at a large, public, land grant university were surveyed to determine whether their personal attitudes were in line with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) stance on reproductive health outlined in the NASW policy statement on family planning and reproductive health. The relationship between levels of religious activity and attitudes toward these aspects of reproductive health was also examined. Results suggest that almost all of the respondents support public funding for family planning. Furthermore, almost all students indicate willingness to refer clients for general contraception. However, results related to emergency contraception indicate that 72% of students disagree that it should be available for adolescents over the counter, even with parental consent, which is inconsistent with the NASW perspective. Sixty-four percent of students report believing that the HPV vaccine is unsafe. Further, as levels of religious activity increased, acceptance of some of these aspects of reproductive health decreased. Implications for social work practice, education, and directions for future research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW)-delivered cancer education program designed to increase knowledge and awareness of colorectal cancer screening options. The study population was an extremely vulnerable and medically underserved geographic region in Appalachian Kentucky. CHWs enrolled participants in face-to-face visits, obtained informed consent, and administered a baseline assessment of knowledge of colorectal cancer risks and the benefits of screening and screening history. An educational intervention was then provided and participants were re-contacted 6 months later when a posttest was administered. The mean score of the 637 participants increased from 4.27 at baseline to 4.57 at follow-up (p < .001). Participants who reported asking their health care provider about colorectal cancer screening increased from 27.6% at baseline to 34.1% at follow-up (p = .013). Results suggest that CHWs were very effective at maintaining the study population; no loss to follow-up occurred. The results also showed increased knowledge and awareness about colorectal cancer screening education. Implications for social work practice, policy and research are discussed.

This study compared perceived and objective health status among a population with elevated risk of chronic disease in rural, Appalachian Kentucky, in order to inform the practice efforts of public health social workers. Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 203 adults recruited through a mailed invitation. The participants ranged in age from 20 to 93 (M = 50.8, SD = 13.5), 115 (56.7%) and nearly all were Caucasian, reflecting the demographic composition of the population of the area. Although 75% of the study population was overweight or obese, over 60% perceived their health status as good, very good, or excellent. Less than half reported engaging in physical exercise, and only 25% reported eating at most one serving of fruits or vegetables in the past week. The results suggest clear discrepancies between perceived health status and objective indicators of health risks in the study sample. Public health social workers who provide health education and advocacy for this population will need to consider these discrepancies when developing practice approaches for individuals residing in this and other similar communities.