Gender Differences In Experience Research Articles

Understanding Gender Differences in Experiences and Concerns Surrounding Online Harms: A Short Report on a Nationally Representative Survey of UK Adults

Understanding Gender Differences in Experiences and Concerns Surrounding Online Harms: A Short Report on a Nationally Representative Survey of UK Adults

GENDER DIFFERENCE IN USING DIGITAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH CANCER: A PILOT QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract Digital technologies hold promises to improve health and care delivery for various populations, including older adults with cancer. However, older adults’ adoption of digital health technology is less optimal. While age and gender can interfere with people’s technology behavioral intention, it is unknown how gender differences may influence older adults with cancer’s technology use experiences. This pilot qualitative study investigated gender differences in older adults’ experiences using digital technologies to manage their cancer and care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 older adults with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer (men=7 and women=9) aged 65 to 78 years. Thematic data analysis revealed that older men favored the adjustability and efficiency of using technology to save time and cost compared to in-person visits. Also, they perceived that technology facilitated their adherence to treatment plans. Older women, however, preferred technology-supported individualized care and perceived being able to review their medical notes as beneficial. Women were comfortable using technology to timely communicate with their trusted care providers. However, they preferred to see their providers in person if they experienced severe condition changes or unanticipated symptoms. Despite all these different preferences, both genders were comfortable using video calls with their providers, using the portal to keep track of their medical records and share decision-making with clinicians. These pilot results demonstrated gender differences in experiences and perceptions of using digital technology among older adults with cancer and suggested integrating gender preferences into technology design and development to facilitate personalized user experience and improve patient engagement.

Examining the Black Gender Gap in Educational Attainment: The Role of Exclusionary School Discipline & Criminal Justice Contact

Abstract Black men and women have different levels of average educational attainment, yet few studies have focused on explaining how and why these patterns develop. One explanation may be inequality in experiences with institutional punishment through exclusionary school discipline and criminal justice exposure. Drawing on intersectional frameworks and theories of social control, I examine the long-term association between punishment and the Black gender gap using data from the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort (NLSY-C). Decomposition analyses reveal that about one third of the gender gap can be explained by gender differences in experiences with institutional punishments, net of differences in observed behaviors. These measures are predictive at key educational transition points, including finishing high school and earning a 4-year college degree. Though Black boys and girls have similar family backgrounds and grow up in similar neighborhoods, results suggest that Black girls have a persistent advantage in educational attainment due in part to their lower levels of exposure to exclusionary school discipline and the criminal justice system. In addition, I find that gender differences in early achievement, early externalizing behavioral problems, school experiences, and substance use in adolescence and early adulthood are associated with gender differences in educational attainment. Taken together, these results illustrate the importance of punishment disparities in understanding disparate educational outcomes over the life course of Black men and women.

Gender Differences in Civil Commitment Hearing Experience for Persons Who Use Opioids.

Civil commitment has increasingly served as a court-based legal intervention for severe opioid use, but little research has examined the civil commitment (CC) hearing process from the perspective of the person who is committed. Despite documented gender differences in opioid use and experiences within the legal system, past research has also not investigated gender differences in perceptions of the CC process for persons who use opioids. Participants were 121 persons (43% female) with opioid use who were interviewed upon arrival at the CC facility about their experience of the CC hearing process in Massachusetts. Two thirds of participants were taken to the commitment hearing by police, and 59.5% shared a cell with others while waiting. Overall, the commitment intake process at the courthouse took over 5 hours. Participants spent, on average, less than 15 minutes with their lawyer before the hearing, and a majority of CC hearings lasted less than 15 minutes. Once transferred to a CC facility, opioid withdrawal management began within 4 hours. Compared with women, men reported longer wait times between the hearing and transfer, as well as longer wait times for withdrawal management at the facility ( P < 0.05). Women perceived worse interactions with the judge and greater dissatisfaction with the commitment process compared with men ( P < 0.05). There were few gender differences in the experience of CC. However, overall, participants reported a lengthy court process and low levels of perceived procedural justice.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN EXPERIENCING CYBER-BULLYING AND CYBER-STALKING AMONG YOUNG ADULTS Masooma Mubasher

This research specifically aims to investigate the prevalence of online harassment among boys and girls. A study on the perception and experiences of young adults regarding online harassment victimization has been selected with the topic "Gender differences in experiencing cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking." It offers detailed insights into their experiences and behaviours concerning cyber bullying, as well as the impact of cyber bullying on their lives and their coping strategies. This qualitative study employs a purposive sampling technique, with 12 participants (6 males and 6 females) aged 19 to 30 from various colleges and universities engaging in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was utilized to transcribe and analyze the interviews. The findings reveal no significant gender differences in cyber bullying and cyber stalking experiences among young adults. Both boys and girls were found to be targets of online harassment, but they often refrained from reporting such incidents due to privacy concerns. The primary challenge for future cyber bullying prevention efforts will be keeping up with the rapid advancements in technology. Keywords: Cyber bullying, cyber-stalking, social networking sites, young adults, online moral disengagement.

Experience of dementia care burden: An exploratory study from India

AbstractBackgroundIn India, dementia care is typically provided by family caregivers. Traditionally caregiving is undertaken by women family members, however, changing societal and family structures may mean more men become involved in caregiving roles. This study explores gender differences in experience of care burden for older adults.MethodA retrospective analysis was conducted to examine contextual factors contributing to care burden using case records of individuals visiting a non‐hospital based elder care organization in India. All had been administered Zarit Burden Interview – 22 (ZBI), Lawton Independent Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) and Katz Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL). Mixed methods analysis was used to examine overall care burden across genders and factors contributing towards subjective experience of care burden.ResultData was examined from 60 family caregivers of older adults (M = 22; F = 38). Majority were carers for dementia and reported feeling the care recipient was dependent on them which was corroborated by findings of dependency on IADL (44%) and ADL (26%). Overall, caregivers experienced mild to moderate burden and ZBI scores did not differ significantly across genders t (48) = .70, p = .48&lt;0.05, however, they did not feel comfortable handing care to anyone else. Only 31% caregivers had support from paid attendants with families preferring to manage care themselves. Item analysis revealed subjective experience of care burden differed across genders. Women (42%) experienced feeling strained quite frequently / nearly always compared to men (18%). Although men reported that they experienced stress due to caregiving, item analysis revealed that majority of men in regard to their health (M = 50%, F = 0%) or social life (M = 41%, F = 29%) reported never being greatly impacted due to caregiving activities as compared to women.ConclusionFindings indicate although men and women family carers of dementia experience similar levels of care burden, women experience greater strain as compared to men. Findings from this study has implications for development of gender sensitive caregiver support modules.

Repercussions of Rejecting Unwanted Advances: Gender Differences in Experience and Concern

Here we investigated how a history of experiencing unwanted advances—both sexual and romantic—impact a person’s stress and strategies when rejecting future advances. In this study (N = 465; 71% women), women reported experiencing unwanted advances earlier in life compared to men, and these women were more likely to have greater worry over such advances. Additionally, women tended to worry more than men about the repercussions of rejecting these advances (e.g., being hit, being yelled at). Lastly, women were more likely to employ a myriad of strategies (e.g., run away, call a friend) to ensure their safety when rejecting an advance. In contrast, men were more likely to remain friends with the rejected person. Ultimately, women have to deal with rejecting advances at an early age and this early onset has consequences for future dating.

Gender Differences in Experiences of Adherence to HIV/AIDS Management among HIV-Positive Adults attending a Tertiary Hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Adherence to HIV/AIDS management is the fundamental mechanism for ending HIV/AIDS by 2030. Rivers State has the third-highest HIV/AIDS burden in Nigeria. This study aimed to gain insights into the gender differences in experiences of adherence to HIV/AIDS management among HIV patients attending the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State Nigeria.&#x0D; Methods: A qualitative study design was carried out among 24 adult HIV positive patients who were purposively selected. Four focus group discussions were conducted with six participants in each group (2-male groups and 2-female groups). Each session was audio-recorded with consent from participants, transcribed verbatim, and exported into ATLAS. Ti version-12 software for analysis. Results were presented in tables and diagrams, highlighting codes and quotations.&#x0D; Results: The majority of respondents were within 30-39 years. Most participants understood adherence as the timely ingestion of antiretroviral medications. The commonest reasons for non-adherence among the female gender were shame, poor attitude of healthcare workers, lack of support from discordant spouses/partners, and long waiting times at the clinic. While the male gender reported financial constraints and fear of being embarrassed or stigmatized.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study revealed the socio-cultural, economic, and psychosocial factors influencing adherence to HIV/AIDS management. Hence solutions proffered by discussants such as improving on personal efforts, disclosure to trusted persons, friendly behaviour of healthcare workers, family and spousal support should be considered by healthcare facilities, donor organizations, and the government.

Gender differences in the laryngectomee experience.

Laryngectomy is a pivotal event in patients. lives, with pervasive and far-reaching effects. Understanding gender differences in these effects may improve care of laryngectomy patients. This paper describes gender differences in the experience after laryngectomy. To explore the similarities and differences in the laryngectomee experience based on gender. Four gender-matched focus groups were conducted; dialogue was audio recorded, transcribed and studied using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). A total of 17 laryngectomees, eight female and nine male, age range 41-80 years, participated in focus groups. Laryngectomy represented a turning point in the lives of both genders. Four themes emerged: perception of loss, adjusting to alaryngeal communication, finding a positive outlook and re-establishing the self. Themes applied to both genders, with subthemes demonstrating similarities and differences between men and women. Men and women experienced destabilization after laryngectomy related to perceived losses and shifts in identity. Men described navigating from physical disability toward recovery of function, while women described an emotional journey concerning loss and rediscovery of meaning in their lives. Understanding the laryngectomee experience in better detail, which includes recognizing gender differences and rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach, may facilitate more effective preoperative counselling and post-operative support from providers. What is already known on the subject Patients who undergo total laryngectomy often struggle with problems with physical, emotional, and social functioning and decreased quality of life. As the literature currently stands, the understanding of the experience of laryngectomees has primarily focused on the perspective of a singular gender. Thus, this is the first qualitative study specifically investigating differences in the laryngectomee experience between men and women. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study finds that women and men both endorse significant mental and physical changes following laryngectomy; however, their perception of their experience differed by gender. Women endorsed alteration to meaningful life and men demonstrated distress related to loss of physical functioning; both genders described laryngectomy as a formative event that helped them rediscover joy and redefine themselves for the better. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Our findings suggest men and women have distinct mental and emotional struggles after laryngectomy despite similar physical changes. This suggests that tailoring care with consideration of these gender differences, including preoperative counselling, post-operative support and gender-matched visitors or support groups, may help beneficial in recovery after laryngectomy.

An integrative review of research on gambling and domestic and family violence: Fresh perspectives to guide future research.

This paper presents an integrative review of research on domestic and family violence (DFV), including intimate partner violence (IPV), experienced by victims and perpetrators with a gambling problem. It aims to review, critique, and synthesize research on this topic to generate fresh and alternative perspectives to guide future research. Based on a systematic search of the academic literature and a targeted search of gray literature, the paper summarizes findings from empirical studies pertaining to the prevalence of perpetration and victimization, characteristics of perpetrators and victims, and explanations for this violence. Based on this review, the paper suggests several potential improvements that can be considered in future studies. These include a shift from focusing on situational violence to also include coercive control; greater sensitivity in research design and interpretation to gender differences in experiences of violence; and the need to include economic abuse as a form of DFV/IPV. Adopting a public health lens is also recommended to broaden the research focus from victims and perpetrators to also consider contextual factors. In particular, gambling research should examine the contribution of gambling products, practices, environments, and marketing to DFV/IPV and how this might be ameliorated. While research to date has drawn much needed attention to the risks that gambling presents for DFV/IPV, this review provides some suggestions for future research so that it can provide more nuanced findings to inform policy and practice.

“She Thinks I’ll Marry Her, but I Won’t”: The Gendered Conceptualisation of Consensual Unions in Ghana

A large body of work on consensual unions suggests a unitary household conception of consensual unions either as a precursor or an alternative to marriage. Another set of literature, though quite scanty, reveals gender differences in experiences in consensual unions. This paper adds to the argument that attitudes towards intimate relationships and marriage can be gendered. As a result, one partner may hope for the conversion of a consensual union to marriage whilst the other would not. The paper interrogates the ways in which the socio-cultural context of Ghana influences the gendered attitudes towards consensual unions as a form of intimate partnership and creates a sense of ‘commitment phobia’ particularly for men. To do this, thirty-one people with varying ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds were purposively sampled. In-depth interviews were conducted separately for the individual partners. The paper concludes that contrary to the unitary household conception of consensual unions, there is a gendered conceptualisation of these unions where women are more likely to think of consensual unions as a precursor to marriage while men think of it as an alternative to marriage.

The needs of subfertile couples continuing to attempt natural conception: in-depth interviews.

STUDY QUESTIONWhat are the experiences and the support and sexual advice needs of subfertile couples continuing to attempt natural conception after the diagnostic fertility work-up?SUMMARY ANSWERExploration of the experiences of couples showed that couples would have appreciated fertility clinic staff embedding expectant management into the fertility clinic trajectory, supportive staff with female and male patient interactions and advice on common experiences of peers and on managing their lifestyle, distress and subfertility-related sexual challenges.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYDutch and British professional guidelines advise newly diagnosed subfertile couples with a ‘good prognosis’ to continue to attempt natural conception and do not require fertility clinic staff to interact with patients. Fertility clinic staff and subfertile couples struggle to follow these guidelines as they feel an urgent need for action. Subfertile couples might benefit from sexual advice, as subfertility is negatively associated with sexual functioning, which is important for natural conception.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONTwelve one-time in-depth interviews (2015–2017) were conducted with 10 heterosexual couples and 2 women whose partners did not participate, then the interviews were subjected to inductive content analysis, reaching inductive thematic saturation.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSThe 22 interviewees had experienced 3–18 months of expectant management after their diagnostic fertility work-up in a Belgian or a Dutch tertiary fertility clinic. The face-to-face in-depth interviews explored positive and negative experiences and unmet needs. The transcribed interviews were subjected to inductive content analysis, by two researchers discussing initial disagreements.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCECouples would appreciate fertility clinic staff embedding expectant management in the fertility clinic trajectory, by starting off with reassuring couples that their very thorough diagnostic fertility work-up demonstrated their good chance of natural conception, and by involving couples in deciding on the duration of expectant management and by planning the follow-up appointment after expectant management up front. Couples had encountered sexual challenges during expectant management and had an interest in sexual advice, focused on increasing pleasure and partner bonding and preventing the rise of dysfunctions. The couples agreed that a (secured) website with evidence-based, non-patronizing text and mixed media would be an appropriate format for a novel support programme. Couples were keen for interactions with fertility clinic staff which addressed both partners of subfertile couples. Couples also valued advice on managing their lifestyle and distress and would have liked information on the experiences of their peers.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONRecall bias is plausible given the retrospective nature of this study. This explorative interview study was not designed for examining country or gender differences in experiences and needs but it did generate new findings on inter-country differences.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSRather than simply advising expectant management, fertility clinics are encouraged to offer couples who continue to attempt natural conception after their diagnostic fertility work-up, supportive patient–staff interactions with advice on common experiences of peers and on managing their lifestyle, distress and sexual challenges related to subfertility.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)Funded by Flanders Research Foundation and the University of Amsterdam. There are no competing interests.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A.

Gender Differences in Experiences and Expectations of Hemodialysis in a Frail and Seriously Unwell Patient Population

Surprisingly few studies have explored the experiences of seriously unwell people with kidney disease on hemodialysis therapy: we conducted a mixed-methods study to investigate gender differences in illness experience, symptom burden, treatment considerations or expectations in this cohort. Seriously unwell people on hemodialysis (1-year mortality risk of >20%) at 3 hospital-based units were invited to take part in a structured interview or to complete the same questions independently via a questionnaire. A total of 54 people took part (36 males, 18 females); data analysis was undertaken using a thematic approach. "Desire to keep living" is the most important and basic thought process when starting dialysis. Fear also predominates influencing risk assessment and decision-making. Once fear is managed, there are physical, social, practical and emotional issues to rationalize, but choice only seems possible if shared decision-making is part of the consultation.Gender differences were seen in perceived hopes and expectations of treatment. Males were more likely to prioritize achievement of physical goals, with females prioritizing a wish to feel well. Both genders reported significantly higher symptom scores than their health care provider perceived, however this difference was more marked in females. Dialysis regret existed in >50% of participants and 6 out of 54 (11%) stated that they would have chosen no dialysis at all. Females were more likely to report feeling depressed (P= 0.001). Different genders approach treatment decisions and prioritize treatment expectations differently. Recognizing this will allow personalized care plans to be developed and improve the experiences of seriously unwell people with kidney disease.

Bullying Among Medical Residents: Gender, Social Norms, and Reporting Behavior.

Bullying behavior in residency is common, with prevalence rates ranging from 10% to 48%. Negative acts adversely impact junior physicians. The aims of this study were to examine (a) gender differences in experiences of bullying and/or negative acts while working as a medical resident, (b) residents' perceptions of injunctive (ie, approval of) and descriptive (ie, behavior) norms related to reporting bullying behaviors, and (c) whether greater self-other differences predict greater engagement in reporting bullying behavior by others in the workplace. Self-report surveys were administered to family medicine, internal medicine, surgical, and emergency medicine residents (N=61). Female residents reported experiencing significantly more bullying than males. Overall, resident physicians held inaccurate beliefs, and thought other residents reported bullying more often than they did. Finally, the degree of inaccuracy was associated with reporting bullying behavior. These findings are an initial indication that normative interventions may be applicable with this population. In a field that struggles with high rates of burnout, finding ways to improve the culture of an organization may assist with addressing at least part of these systemic issues.

Gender Differences in Experiences of Leadership Emergence Among Emergency Medicine Department Chairs

The number of women entering medicine continues to increase, but women remain underrepresented at all tiers of academic rank and chair leadership in EM. The proportion of female chairs in EM has not exceeded 12% in 2 decades. To compare how male and female EM chairs experience leadership emergence, with attention to factors associated with support of the emergence of female chairs. This qualitative descriptive study was conducted between April 2020 and February 2021 at 36 US academic EM departments. Eligible participants were all current and emeritus female EM academic department chairs (with a possible cohort of 20 individuals) and an equal number of randomly selected male chairs. Semistructured interviews were conducted via teleconferencing with an 11-item interview guide. Qualitative findings identifying similarities and gender differences in leadership emergence were collected. Among 20 female chairs in EM, 19 women (mean [SD] age, 56.2 [7.1] years) participated in the study (95.0% response rate). There were 13 active chairs, and 6 women were within 5 years of chair leadership. Among 77 male chairs in EM identified and randomized, 37 men were invited to participate, among whom 19 individuals (51.4%) agreed to participate; 18 men (mean [SD] age, 52.2 [7.5] years) completed their interviews. Reflecting upon their experiences of leadership emergence, male chairs saw leadership as their destiny, were motivated to be chairs to gain influence, were dismissive of risks associated with chairing a department, and were sponsored by senior male leaders to advance in leadership. Female chairs saw leadership as something they had long prepared for, were motivated to be chairs to make a difference, were cautious of risks associated with chairing a department that could derail their careers, and relied on their own efforts to advance in leadership. This study found that experiences of leadership emergence differed by gender. These results suggest that leadership development strategies tailored to women should promote early internalization of leadership identity, tightly link leadership to purpose, cultivate active sponsorship, and encourage women's risk tolerance through leadership validation to support women's development as leaders and demonstrate a commitment to gender equity in EM leadership.

Dressing the Part: Gender Differences in Residents' Experiences of Feedback in Internal Medicine.

Multiple studies demonstrate that assessment of residents differs by gender, yet little is known about how these differences are experienced by women and men. The authors sought to understand whether the experience of being assessed and receiving feedback differs between men and women internal medicine (IM) residents and how women respond to these experiences. A constructivist grounded theory approach to data collection and interpretation was used. The authors invited all IM residents in postgraduate years 1-3 at the University of Toronto to participate in semistructured focus groups (August-October 2019). Twenty-two residents participated (8 men, 14 women). Focus groups were divided by gender and training level. The authors found a profound difference in experiences of receiving feedback between men and women residents. The themes of challenges to power and authority, tactics to reestablish power and authority, conflicting feedback from attendings, and ways of moving forward all diverged between men and women residents. Women repeatedly brought up feedback outside of official assessment moments and relied on symbols, such as a white coat, stethoscope, and demure clothing, to "dress the part" of a physician. Women also encountered conflicting feedback from supervisors regarding confidence and assertiveness (e.g., sometimes told to be more assertive, other times to be less), often resulting in self-censorship; similar feedback was rarely noted by men. Gendered differences in the experiences of being assessed and receiving feedback are not always reflected in standard measures. Gender and medicine can be considered performative, and these findings demonstrate women IM residents integrate multiple forms of feedback to create the persona of the woman physician. The authors believe this research contributes a unique vantage point to the experience of women residents interpreting explicit and implicit feedback in IM and highlights the socialization that occurs to become a woman physician.

A Learning Experience? Enjoyment at Sexual Debut and the Gender Gap in Sexual Desire among Emerging Adults

ABSTRACT Gender differences in experience of first intercourse are among the largest in sexuality research, with women recalling less pleasure and satisfaction than men. This “enjoyment gap” has not been considered in explanations of gender differences in sexual desire. Yet, reinforcement and incentive learning feature prominently in recent models of women’s sexual desire, and nonhuman animal models demonstrate their impact at sexual debut. We examined whether women’s lower sexual desire is explained by their gender or by gendered experience of enjoyment at sexual debut. Emerging adults (N = 838) provided retrospective accounts of physical (orgasm) and affective (satisfaction) enjoyment at (hetero)sexual debut. We replicated gender differences across behavioral, general, and multidimensional measures of trait sexual desire; however, they were contingent on experience and measurement method. When its cognitive multidimensional properties were appreciated, women’s sexual desire varied with experience of orgasm at sexual debut and diverged from men’s only when orgasm did not occur. Such effects were not observed for satisfaction, nor for men. Nor did effects of a control event – masturbatory debut – extend beyond solitary sexual desire. Findings underscore the importance of orgasm equality, and suggest its absence at sexual debut may play an unacknowledged role in differentiating sexual desire.

Taking Our Own Temperature: Using a Residency Climate Survey to Support Minority Voices.

Recruitment of underrepresented minorities (URM) in medicine has risen to the forefront as a strategy to address health inequities, but the experiences of URM residents within their own programs are poorly understood. We describe the development and implementation of a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) climate survey at our residency program, the results of which have informed our DEI efforts. A resident-faculty work group collaboratively developed an 81-item questionnaire, informed by other institutional climate surveys. We administered the survey annually from 2018 through 2021 to all residents and faculty at our large academic family medicine residency program. The anonymous survey covered six key areas: general climate, climate for specific group, personal experience with discrimination and harassment, recruitment, burnout, and curriculum. Average response rates were 84% and 50% for residents and faculty, respectively. Survey results show low satisfaction with resident and faculty diversity; higher rates of burnout for respondents who self-identify as URM, persons of color (POC), and/or LGBTQ; and racial and gender differences in experiences of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. Instituting an annual internal climate survey at our residency has provided invaluable information regarding the perspectives and experiences of our residents and faculty that has informed our DEI initiatives. We envision that our survey will inform continual improvement and serve as a model for similar introspection leading to meaningful action at other programs.

Gender variations in HIV related stigma among Indian adults

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health problem. Social stigma and discrimination around HIV can be a strong deterrent to seeking healthcare and deny people living with HIV (PLHIV) a life of dignity. Further, gender has a role in determining utilization of available healthcare service. Although research has been conducted on gender differences in experience of stigma among PLHIV, there remains a gap with respect to cross gender study of the determinants of HIV related stigma in the context of India which has the third highest burden of HIV globally. This serves as the motivation of the current study.Methods: The study uses unit level data on adult men and women from the NFHS-4 (2015-16) survey. Logistic regression has been used for analysis of data.Results: Higher percentage of adult women than men nurture HIV related stigma at all India level. Multivariate analysis reveals that for both genders, stigma falls significantly with higher educational attainment but increases with higher economic class. Differences in drivers of stigma across men and women remain with respect to religion, age, employment and marital status.Conclusions: Awareness raising and stigma reducing interventions designed in view of gender specific requirements are called for to curb social discrimination against PLHIV and ensure better quality of life for them.

Gender Difference in Unmet Needs Among People Aging With a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can result in a myriad of short and long-term mental and physical changes and conditions. While fall-related brain injury prevention strategies and outcomes among older adults have been well-documented in previous literature, less is understood about the experiences and needs of those aging with a brain injury. The aim of this project is to explore gender differences in experiences and needs among people aging with a TBI. A Needs Assessment survey was conducted in early 2020 with adult TBI survivors and their family members in Missouri (n = 150). The mean age of respondents was 45.8 and 58% identified as male. Bivariate analyses reveal gender difference in unmet needs related to information and referral, recreation, and continuing education among TBI survivors. For example, more female respondents (43.1%) identified unmet needs associated with physical activity than their male counterparts (25.9%, p < .05). More females (61.3%) than males (43.4%) also identified unmet continuing education needs related to aging with brain injury (p < .05), whereas more males (10.8%) identified unmet continuing education needs on the topic of parenting (females: 1.6%, p < .05). Significantly more females (31.1%) than males (16.9%) identified lack of transportation as a barrier to accessing needed supports and resources (p < .05). Results will guide development of an Annual State Action Plan to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of Missourians aging with TBI and their families. A better understanding of needs and preferences can inform targeted policies, programs, and resources.