We used the “Natality data files” assembled by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) covering the period 1989-2000. The Natality files contain individual records of all live births that occurred in the United States during the stated period. The procedures for quality control of the data are explained in detail elsewhere. The data source [...]

The published evidence showing that high-parity women are at greater risk for adverse birth outcomes is inconclusive. Whereas some studies find a direct association between parity status and adverse birth outcomes, others do not. In order to understand the linkage between parity status and adverse birth outcomes, it may be necessary to investigate temporal changes [...]

INTRODUCTION After nearly two hard-fought decades focused on minimizing the spread of HIV among various “at-risk” groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), youth and injection-drug users (IDUs), the period from 1999-2001 marked a disturbing increase in HIV infection among MSM and heterosexuals in the United States. In 2003, the Centers for [...]

As seen in Table 3, the differences in responses between our HIV-positive sample and those in Sanders and Reinisch’s study (unknown HIV status) are striking. While the hierarchical order of “yes” responses remains primarily the same in both studies (with deep kissing and breast contact items receiving the fewest “yes” responses followed by genital touching, [...]

The mean age of the sample was 37.5 years, with a range between 19-68 years of age. Seventy-seven percent of the sample was male, 23% female; 25% was white, 52% African-American, 19% Latino, and 4% did not identify with any of the above categories. Additionally, 68.4% of male respondents indicated male sex partners within the [...]

The data were collected from surveys completed between November 2003 and February 2004, among HIV-infected individuals receiving medical and social services from a nonprofit AIDS service organizations in Dallas, TX. Over the three-month period, 279 unduplicated patients presenting for routine medical care completed surveys.