Executive function associated with sexual risk in young South African women: Findings from the HPTN 068 cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Heightened sexual risk in adolescence and young adulthood may be partially explained by deficits in executive functioning, the set of cognitive processes used to make reasoned decisions. However, the association between executive function and sexual risk is understudied among adolescent girls and young women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

In a cohort of 853 young women age 18-25 in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa, we evaluated executive function with three non-verbal cognitive tests: I. a rule-finding test, II. a trail-making test, and III. a figure drawing test. Using log-binomial regression models, we estimated the association between lower executive function test scores and indicators of sexual risk (unprotected sex acts, concur

SUBMITTER: Rosenberg M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5880379 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature