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Objectives: This paper investigates a community-based intervention for young fathers, FatherWorks, compared to care-as-usual, 24/7 Dads. We hypothesized that utilizing the FatherWorks intervention (a 15 session parenting intervention, 13 session employment class, paid internship, case management, and access to behavioral health services) will assist in readiness to use condoms and increase condom usage, which may differ by race/ethnicity. Methods: Eligible males (n = 328) were enrolled into a Randomized Control Trial. Participants were 15–24 years old and had fathered one or more children with a female under the age of 21. A survey was taken at baseline and at 15 weeks following the intervention. Results: Analyses of changes indicated that intervention participants improved from the pre-contemplation stage of condom usage towards contemplation, and from preparation to action. The pattern of improvement in the condom use stage of change was different in African-American versus Hispanic participants. Changes in condom use during last intercourse were not significant. Conclusions: Study findings indicate that FatherWorks is successful in increasing the intent to use condoms, with the effect manifesting differently in African-American and Hispanic young fathers. Future work with minority fathers indicates a need for cultural adaptation of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isocyanates, the essential cross-linking chemicals used to make polyurethane, are potent sensitizers and a common cause of occupational asthma. In addition, isocyanate (NCO) skin contact may contribute to the development of isocyanate asthma. Prior work has shown that unbound NCO can persist on recently spray coated auto body parts after appearing dry. The purpose of this study was to assess whether isocyanate skin exposure can result from handling such surfaces. Quantitative surface and skin wipe sampling for total NCO was performed on test panels sprayed with aliphatic isocyanate coatings, and on paired skin samples obtained from participants who had rubbed the recently dried surfaces. Surface and skin samples, obtained from 18 workers in five auto body shops, were prepared following NIOSH method 5525 (modified for skin samples), and isocyanate species derived from hexamethylene diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and fluorescence detectors. Quantifiable unbound NCO species were detected on 84.2% of all sprayed surfaces sampled after initially considered dry. Only 7 out of a total of 104 (6.7%) non-compounded skin samples obtained after contact with the recently dried coatings had detectable quantities of free NCO. The 7 positive samples, all obtained at the initial sampling time (t0), had a geometric mean of O. 016 µg NCO cm-2 (range: 0.002-0.88 µg NCO cm-2). Only I of 12 (8.3%) of skin samples obtained after compounding contained detectable free NCO. The risk of substantial human isocyanate skin exposure from contact with the dry appearing (yet not fully cured) isocyanate coatings evaluated in this study appears to be low, although other isocyanate coatings and tasks may pose a greater risk of NCO skin exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]