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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are increasing among young adults, and males who have sex with males (MSM) are at high risk for both infections. Limited Hawai'i data exists on the extent to which populations, such as MSM, are engaging in behaviors that place them at increased risk for either infection. This analysis quantified the proportion of Hawai'i public high school students who are MSM and are at risk for HCV and HIV infections. Data from the 2013, 2015, and 2017 Hawai'i Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) were combined (n=16,751) to investigate the prevalence of risk factors associated with HIV and HCV infections (eg, sexual risk behaviors, substance use) and protective factors among MSM public high school students. Among sexually experienced male students (n=3,391), 13.1% were classified as MSM and among these, 40.3% identified as heterosexual despite reporting same-sex sexual contact. Multivariate modeling demonstrated that MSM students are significantly more likely than non-MSM students to engage in behaviors that increase their risk for HIV and HCV infections (composite risk variable; adjusted Prevalence Ratio: 1.40, 95% CI 1.15 - 1.70) and are significantly less likely to have protective factors. Evidence-based prevention strategies for reducing HIV and HCV risk behaviors while improving protective factors among sexual minority youth in Hawaii are necessary and must address sexual behavior along with other dimensions of sexual orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hawai'i has comprehensive statewide tobacco control policies and was the first US state to raise the minimum age of sale, purchase, and possession of tobacco products to age 21 ("Tobacco 21") in a policy including not just cigarettes, but also electronic smoking devices and other tobacco products. This insights article provides strategic thinking about tobacco control advocacy planning. Specifically, we identify formative factors critical to building and sustaining our cross-sector, statewide advocacy infrastructure that has been able to address many ongoing challenges of tobacco-use prevention and control over time. This can provide new insights for other large-scale tobacco-control advocacy efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of policy, systems, and environmental changes in addressing the growing obesity and chronic disease rates in Hawai'i. Topics discussed include the creation of Obesity Prevention Task Force law, the physical activity policy recommendations, and the symposium Weight of the State: Solving the Chronic Disease Crisis through Innovative Policy Change held on November 20, 2015.

The article presents the insights of the author into the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and its impact on the public health programs in Hawaii. Topics discussed include incidence and mortality rates, efficacy of CRC screening and CRC screening recommendations and covered preventive services for asymptomatic adults. Also discussed are self-reported screening prevalence, public health efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Hawaii Department of Health.

An introduction to this issue of the "Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health," in which the editors discuss the phenomenon of study publication bias, is presented.