According to research led by Jane Dimmitt Champion, Ph.D. at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, these adolescents reported a history of sexual and physical abuse, and many barriers to health care. This places abused minority adolescents with STD at even higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease and HIV/STD. Adverse long term effects of pelvic inflammatory disease include chronic pain and infertility requiring long term medical care.
Dr. Champion and her team conclude that with better screening for history of sexual/physical abuse in health care clinics caring for minority adolescent women, further health problems including chronic pelvic pain and infertility could be decreased.
This study is published in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the article please contact medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net. Jane Dimmitt Champion, B.S.N., M.S.N., M.A., Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In 1979, she was accepted in into The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. She has years of experience and honors in community health and has authored numerous papers on the subject. Co-authors of this study are: Jeanna M. Piper, Alan E.C. Holden, Rochelle N. Shain, Sondra Perdue and Jeffrey E. Korte all of the University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio. For questions and interviews, contact the author at dimmitt@uthscsa.dcci.com.
About the Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP) is a peer-reviewed professional journal that serves as the official publication of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Published since 1989, the JAANP is designed to serve the needs of nurse practitioners and other health care professionals who have a major interest in primary health care.
About Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with more than 600 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 750 journals and 600 text and reference books annually, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects.
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners