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Objectives: This study investigates the prevalence of exposure to pro- and anti-tobacco advertisements across different sociodemographic groups and sources of exposure in the United States., Methods: The study included 6252 participants from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Binary logistic regression was used to examine associations between exposure to pro and anti-tobacco advertisements, the sources of exposure, and demographic factors., Results: 10% of our sample were current smokers. A rate of 48.14% reported exposure to pro-tobacco ads, and 61.28% reported exposure to anti-tobacco ads. Findings reveal notable disparities in exposure to both pro and anti-tobacco advertisements. Exposure to pro-tobacco ads was more common among current smokers (OR = 0.53 (95% CI 0.44-0.64), p  < 0.001), male participants (female: OR = 0.85 (95% CI 0.77-0.95), p  = 0.003), and younger adults. Reported exposure to anti-tobacco ads was more common among younger adults, individuals with lower levels of education and income, and current smokers. Radio, TV, and billboards were among the most common sources of ad exposure for both types. Stores were among the most common sources of exposure to pro-tobacco ads (stores: 35.58% (18-34), 39.58% (35-49), and online sources (21.71%) were among the sources where people encountered anti-tobacco messages most frequently., Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of understanding the changing media consumption patterns and advertising awareness across various demographic groups. They also highlight the urgent need for targeted tobacco prevention interventions, especially via Radio, TV, billboards, and stores, particularly among younger adults, racial minorities, and current smokers who show higher exposure to pro-tobacco ads.

Objectives: Our two study objectives were: (1) to understand the relationship between the perception of a previous negative health-care experience and race/ethnicity, and how socio-demographic, access-to-health-care, and self-reported health variables modified this relationship; and (2) to assess how many behaviors participants reported changing as a result of experiencing a perceived negative health-care experience, which behaviors they changed, and if there were differences in patterns of change across racial/ethnic groups., Design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 600 African-American, Mexican-Hispanic, and white adults in socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods in Chicago, IL. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyze the relationship between a perceived negative health-care experience in the last 5 years and race/ethnicity. We summed and then calculated the percentage of people who changed each of the 10 behaviors and evaluated whether or not there were differences in behavior change across racial/ethnic groups., Principal Findings: More than 32% of participants reported a perceived negative health-care experience in the past 5 years. Participants who had a bachelor's degree or above (OR: 2.95, 95%CI: 1.01-8.63), avoided needed care due to cost (OR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.11-3.06), or who reported fair/poor health (OR: 3.58, 95%CI: 1.66-7.80) had significantly increased odds of reporting a negative health-care experience. Of these people, 88% reported 'sometimes/always' changing at least one health-seeking behavior. There were no racial/ethnic differences in reporting negative experiences or in patterns of behavior change., Conclusions: Race/ethnicity was not related to reporting a perceived negative health-care experience or reported patterns of behavior change in response to that experience. However, those who avoided care due to cost were more highly educated, or who indicated poorer health status reported having a negative experience more often. Our findings suggest that the perception of a previous negative experience may influence subsequent health-care-seeking behaviors.

We examined the prevalence of sexual and substance use behaviors among a group of young women who have sex with women (WSW) aged 16 to 24. A convenience sample of 137 young WSW participants completed a confidential survey that included demographics, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors. Descriptive analyses were used to interpret the data. Comparisons were made between rates of risk behaviors in this sample and non-sexual minority youth in a national dataset. The mean age of participants was 19.6 (SD = 2.3) and 59% were from communities of color. Participants reported a history of risky behaviors including anal intercourse with men (26%), monthly binge drinking (22%), pregnancy (20%), and tobacco use (54%). These findings highlight the need for health promotion interventions aimed at reducing risky health behaviors in this highly vulnerable and underserved sub-population of young women.

Although lesbians are believed to be at disproportionately high risk for smoking, few published studies have focused on smoking rates in this population. We examined and compared rates and demographic correlates of smoking among 550 lesbians and 279 heterosexual women in Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and in New York City in 1994-1996 using a self-administered survey questionnaire. African-American lesbians were more likely than African-American heterosexual women or White lesbians to be current smokers. For the sample as a whole, education was the most robust predictor of both current and lifetime smoking. Racial/ethnic minority lesbians with high school education or less were most likely to report both current and lifetime cigarette smoking. The study's limitations are noted.

SUMMARY Similarities and differences in indicators of psychological distress, risk factors for distress, and methods of coping were assessed in African American lesbians and heterosexual women. Despite similar rates of risk factors, lesbians reported more indicators of psychological distress and more frequent use of alcohol or other drugs in response to stress. In addition, findings reflect an overall trend toward higher rates of drinking, alcohol-related problems, and use of other legal and illegal drugs among lesbians.

SUMMARY Data from a diverse sample of lesbians and a demographi-cally matched group of heterosexual women were used to examine and compare lesbians' and heterosexual women's relationships. Findings suggest similarities in the broad relationship experiences of women in the sample including the importance of being in a committed relationship, shared values with partners on relationship issues, and division of labor. Contrary to previous research findings, lesbian and heterosexual women did not differ on overall frequency of sexual activity. Although relationship violence was uncommon among participants in this study, indicators of poor conflict resolution strategies were moderately high in both lesbian and heterosexual couples. Use of mental health services for relationship problems was low and did not differ by sexual orientation. Understanding relationship dynamics in general, and in lesbian couples in particular, is important in the provision of appropriate and effective mental health resources and services.