Women in food insecure, rural Appalachian households participate in risky sexual behaviors: a pilot study. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hewage, Sumali S.; Griswold, Hannah R.; Sergeev, Alexander V.; Gerome, Jody M.; Hamilton, Angela; Holben, David H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hunger & environmental nutrition. Volume 15:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Food supply -- food insecurity -- food security -- Appalachian region -- rural health -- sexual behavior -- women; Nutrition -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Hunger -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Food supply -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2018.1491366
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-0248

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent of cervical cancer. This cross-sectional survey examined differences in HPV status and risky sexual behaviors between food-secure and food-insecure adult females living in rural Appalachia ( n = 153). Most had HPV-negative test results [ n = 139 (91.4%)]. Overall, 49 participants (35.5%) had low Risky Sexual Behavior scores, while 28 (20.3%) and 61 (44.2%), respectively, had medium- and high-risk levels. Non-fully food-secure participants had significantly higher scores, compared to their fully food-secure counterparts ( p < 0.001). Women living in food-insecure households may be at risk for riskier sexual behaviors, which may contribute to the higher cervical cancer rates in Appalachia.