Porn consumption among adolescent girls in Sweden

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Risk Assessments & Recidivism among a Population-Based Group of Swedish Offenders Sentenced to Life in Prison

BACKGROUND:

In Sweden, the number of people serving life sentences has steadily increased. To date, few studies have examined the recidivism rate or the predictive validity of different risk assessment instruments in this group.

AIMS:

Our aim was to test the predictive validity among inmates serving life sentences of two different instruments used for assessing risk-the Historical, Clinical and Risk Management-20 (HCR-20), most widely used in clinical populations, and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), commonly applied in both penal and clinical settings.

METHOD:

Ninety-eight life-sentenced prisoners were included, 26 of whom were released during the study period. Data on risk assessments and dates for release were collected from administrative records, while recidivism data were retrieved from a national database on criminal convictions.

RESULTS:

Sex offenders obtained the highest scores and inmates charged with domestic violent offences obtained the lowest scores on both instruments. The released prisoners were followed for a mean period of 33 months. During this time five prisoners (19%) reoffended, four of them violently, with an average time to recidivism of 10 months. Only PCL-R Facet 4, which reflects antisocial features, was significantly associated with recidivism.

CONCLUSIONS:

This small, but population-based, study demonstrates that antisocial behaviour shows incremental predictive validity for reoffending among life-sentenced offenders, but other measures have little to add for this specific task. The fact that those life sentenced prisoners who reoffended did so so soon after release should prompt allocation of earlier interventions towards preventing this.

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By:  Sturup J1, Karlberg D2, Fredriksson B3, Lihoff T3, Kristiansson M2.

• 1National Board of Forensic Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Sweden.
• 2National Board of Forensic Medicine and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
• 3National Board of Forensic Medicine, Sweden. 
• Crim Behav Ment Health. 2016 Apr;26(2):124-35. doi: 10.1002/cbm.1941. Epub 2015 Jan 30.

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Self-Reported Suicide Ideation & Attempts & Medical Care for Intentional Self-Harm in Lesbians, Gays & Bisexuals in Sweden

BACKGROUND:

Minority sexual orientation is a robust risk indicator for self-reported suicidal ideation and attempts. However, little is known about patterns of medical care for intentional self-harm in this vulnerable population. We investigate sexual orientation-related differences in self-reported lifetime suicide symptoms and medical care for intentional self-harm between 1969 and 2010, including age at initial treatment and recurrence.

METHODS:

We used data from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, a population-based sample of 874 lesbians/gays, 841 bisexuals and 67 980 heterosexuals, whose self-administered surveys have been linked to nationwide registers. Estimates of risk for medical care were calculated as incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CIs.

RESULTS:

Both suicidal ideation and attempts were more commonly reported by lesbian/gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Adjusting for risk-time and confounding, lesbians (IRR 3.8, 95% CI 2.7 to 5.4) and bisexual women (IRR 5.4, 95% CI 4.4 to 6.6) experienced elevated risk for medical care for intentional self-harm, as compared to heterosexual women. Gay men evidenced higher risk (IRR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.4) as compared to heterosexual men. Recurrent medical care was more frequent in LGB individuals, especially in bisexual women and gay men. Lesbian and bisexual women were also younger than heterosexual women when they first received medical care for intentional self-harm.

CONCLUSIONS:

Positive histories of suicidal ideation, attempts and medical care for intentional self-harm, including higher levels of recurrence, are more prevalent among LGB individuals in contrast to heterosexuals. Lesbian/bisexual women evidence an earlier age of onset of treatment. Tailored prevention efforts are urgently needed.

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By:  Björkenstam C1, Kosidou K2, Björkenstam E3, Dalman C2, Andersson G4, Cochran S5.

• 1Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
• 2Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
• 3Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health and California Center for Population Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
• 4Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
• 5Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. 
• J Epidemiol Community Health. 2016 Mar 4. pii: jech-2015-206884. doi: 10.1136/jech-2015-206884.

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Molecular Characterization of HCV in a Swedish County Over 8 Years (2002–2009) Reveals Distinct Transmission Patterns

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health concern and data on its molecular epidemiology in Sweden is scarce. We carried out an 8-year population-based study of newly diagnosed HCV cases in one of Sweden's centrally situated counties, Södermanland (D-county). The aim was to characterize the HCV strains circulating, analyze their genetic relatedness to detect networks, and in combination with demographic data learn more about transmission.

Methods

Molecular analyses of serum samples from 91% (N=557) of all newly notified cases in D-county, 2002–2009, were performed. Phylogenetic analysis (NS5B gene, 300 bp) was linked to demographic data from the national surveillance database, SmiNet, to characterize D-county transmission clusters. The linear-by-linear association test (LBL) was used to analyze trends over time.

Results

The most prevalent subtypes were 1a (38%) and 3a (34%). Subtype 1a was most prevalent among cases transmitted via sexual contact, via contaminated blood, or blood products, while subtype 3a was most prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the subtype 3a sequences formed more and larger transmission clusters (50% of the sequences clustered), while the 1a sequences formed smaller clusters (19% of the sequences clustered), possibly suggesting different epidemics.

Conclusion

We found different transmission patterns in D-county which may, from a public health perspective, have implications for how to control virus infections by targeted interventions.

Below:  Genotype distribution found among the risk factors associated with HCV in patients first notified during 2002–2009. *Unknown=unknown or no information reported. Other=care-related transmission as patient/staff, mother to child/pregnancy, tattoo/piercing, other.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/n6FJXO

By:  Josefine Ederth, PhD,1,* Camilla Jern, MD,2 Helené Norder, PhD, Associate Professor,3 Lars Magnius, MD, Professor,3Erik Alm, PhD,1 Björg Kleverman Rognsvåg, BSc,4 Carl-Gustaf Sundin, MD, County Medical Officer,5 Mia Brytting, PhD, Associate Professor,1 Joakim Esbjörnsson, PhD,6,7,† and Mattias Mild, PhD1,†

¹Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden

²Stockholm South General Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

³Department of Infectious Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

⁴Unilabs AB, Mälarsjukhuset Hospital, Eskilstuna, Sweden

⁵Department of Communicable Disease Control, Södermanland County, Sweden

⁶Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

⁷Nuffield Department Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

*Correspondence to: Josefine Ederth, Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden, Email:es.netehgidnymoslahklof@htrede.enifesoj

Responsible Editor: Tanja Strand, Uppsala University, Sweden.

^†Joakim Esbjörnsson and Mattias Mild have contributed equally to this study.

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Intra- & Extra-Familial Child Homicide in Sweden 1992-2012: A Population-Based Study

Previous studies have shown decreasing child homicide rates in many countries - in Sweden mainly due to a drop in filicide-suicides. This study examines the rate of child homicides during 21 years, with the hypothesis that a decline might be attributable to a decrease in the number of depressive filicide offenders (as defined by a proxy measure). 

In addition, numerous characteristics of child homicide are presented. All homicide incidents involving 0-14-year-old victims in Sweden during 1992-2012 (n = 90) were identified in an autopsy database. Data from multiple registries, forensic psychiatric evaluations, police reports, verdicts and other sources were collected. Utilizing Poisson regression, we found a 4% annual decrease in child homicides, in accordance with prior studies, but no marked decrease regarding the depressive-offender proxy. 

Diagnoses from forensic psychiatric evaluations (n = 50) included substance misuse (8%), affective disorders (10%), autism-spectrum disorders (18%), psychotic disorders (28%) and personality disorders (30%). Prior violent offences were more common among offenders in filicides than filicide-suicides (17.8% vs. 6.9%); and about 20% of offenders in each group had previously received psychiatric inpatient care. 

Aggressive methods of filicide predominated among fathers. Highly lethal methods of filicide (firearms, fire) were more commonly followed by same-method suicide than less lethal methods. Interestingly, a third of the extra-familial offenders had an autism-spectrum disorder. 

Based on several findings, e.g., the low rate of substance misuse, the study concludes that non-traditional risk factors for violence must be highlighted by healthcare providers. Also, the occurrence of autism-spectrum disorders in the present study is a novel finding that warrants further investigation.

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By:  Hedlund J1, Masterman T2, Sturup J3.

• 1National Board of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, PO Box 4044, SE-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: jonatan.hedlund@ki.se.
• 2National Board of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, PO Box 4044, SE-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
• 3National Board of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, PO Box 4044, SE-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm University, Department of Criminology, Sweden.
• J Forensic Leg Med. 2016 Jan 25;39:91-99. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.01.011.  

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The Prevalence of Potentially Victimizing Events, Poly-Victimization, and Its Association to Sociodemographic Factors: A Swedish Youth Survey

Studying the extent to which children are exposed to victimizing events is important to fully understand the effect of such exposure in shaping them as adults. The aim of this study was to use self-report by adolescents to measure the prevalence of victimizing events and of poly-victimization. 

A representative sample of 5,960 students (aged 17) from high schools in Sweden was given the self-administrated version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) along with questions concerning gender, birthplace, parents' birthplace and employment, residence, educational program, and municipality size. 

The results show that 84.1% (83.0% young men and 85.2% young women) of the students had experienced victimization during their lifetime, and 10.3% were categorized as poly-victims (8.1% young men and 12.5% young women). Adolescents living with both parents were at lower risk of any form of victimization for both genders, while females were at higher risk of maltreatment, peer victimization, and, most significantly, sexual victimization. 

In conclusion, the vast majority of young people have been victimized during their lifetime. A greater awareness of the impact of these victimizing events on children and adolescents is important as a basis for providing a safer milieu and establishing better interventions, especially for those that have been victimized on multiple occasions. The high-exposure group was determined by using ≥10 events as a cutoff. Findings on this group corresponded with findings in other international studies regarding distribution, elevated risk for females, and the possibility of limiting the effects of victimization by modifying living conditions.

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By:  Aho N1, Gren-Landell M2, Svedin CG2.

• 1Linköping University, Sweden nikolas.aho@liu.se.
• 2Linköping University, Sweden. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Feb;31(4):620-51. doi: 10.1177/0886260514556105. Epub 2014 Nov 11.

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Housing for Ageing LGBTQ People in Sweden: A Descriptive Study Of Needs, Preferences, and Concerns

BACKGROUND/AIM:

With an increasing number of ageing people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ), there is a risk that traditional housing for older people fails to meet the needs of these people. The aim of this study was to describe LGBTQ people's needs, preferences, and concerns according to ageing and housing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Based on a survey (n = 487), and six focus-group discussions (n = 30), with LGBTQ persons, quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to analyse the findings.

RESULTS:

When comparing the ranking of preferences (in terms of activity options, environmental features, and staff competence) in a senior housing setting between the LGBTQ people (n = 200) and heterosexual matched controls (n = 198), only minor differences were detected. The findings from the focus groups included: 

1. a dilemma between segregation and openness, 
2. the importance of safety associated with ageing together with persons with similar experiences, and 
3. networks of persons at different ages connected through close friendship supported participation in activities in LGBTQ-profiled senior housing.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE:

The findings provide knowledge to improve awareness of sexual orientation when it comes to needs and preferences in relation to ageing and housing in a Swedish context.

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By:  Kottorp A1,2, Johansson K1, Aase P3, Rosenberg L1.

• 1 Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy (http://goo.gl/a0bqIf), Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden ;
• 2 Department of Occupational Therapy , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , United States ;
• 3 Per Aase Ltd , Stockholm , Sweden.
• Scand J Occup Ther. 2015 Dec 1:1-10. 

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 More about photo:  http://goo.gl/ievCq4

Six-Week Follow-Up After HIV-1 Exposure: A Position Statement from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy

In 2014 the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) conducted a review and analysis of the state of knowledge on the duration of follow-up after exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 

Up until then a follow-up of 12 weeks after exposure had been recommended, but improved tests and new information on early diagnosis motivated a re-evaluation of the national recommendations by experts representing infectious diseases and microbiology, county medical officers, the RAV, the Public Health Agency, and other national authorities. 

Based on the current state of knowledge the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the RAV recommend, starting in April 2015, a follow-up period of 6 weeks after possible HIV-1 exposure, if HIV testing is performed using laboratory-based combination tests detecting both HIV antibody and antigen. If point-of-care rapid HIV tests are used, a follow-up period of 8 weeks is recommended, because currently available rapid tests have insufficient sensitivity for detection of HIV-1 antigen. 

A follow-up period of 12 weeks is recommended after a possible exposure forHIV-2, since presently used assays do not include HIV-2 antigens and only limited information is available on the development of HIV antibodies during early HIV-2 infection. 

If pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis is administered, the follow-up period is recommended to begin after completion of prophylaxis. Even if infection cannot be reliably excluded before the end of the recommended follow-up period, HIV testing should be performed at first contact for persons who seek such testing.

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By:   Gaines H1,2,3, Albert J4,5,6, Axelsson M1, Berglund T1, Gisslén M6,7, Sönnerborg A3,5,6,8, Blaxhult A9, Bogdanovic G5, Brytting M1, Carlander C6,10, Flamholc L6,11, Follin P12, Haggar A13, Hagstam P14, Johansson M15, Navér L6,16,17, Persson Blom J18, Samuelson A5, Ström H13, Sundqvist M19, Svedhem Johansson V3, Tegmark Wisell K1, Tegnell A1, Thorstensson R1.

• 1 Public Health Agency of Sweden , Solna .
• 2 Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm .
• 3 Department of Infectious Diseases , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm .
• 4 Department of Microbiology , Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm .
• 5 Department of Clinical Microbiology , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm .
• 6 Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy , Stockholm .
• 7 Department of Infectious Diseases , Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg .
• 8 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm .
• 9 Department of Infectious Diseases , Södersjukhuset Venhälsan , Stockholm .
• 10 Clinic of Infectious Diseases, County Hospital of Västmanland , Västerås .
• 11 Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Lund, Skåne University Hospital , Malmö .
• 12 Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Region Västra Götaland , Gothenburg .
• 13 National Board of Health and Welfare , Stockholm .
• 14 Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Skåne , Malmö .
• 15 Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases , Kalmar County Hospital , Kalmar .
• 16 Department of Pediatrics , Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm .
• 17 Department of Clinical Science , Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute , Stockholm .
• 18 Swedish Work Environment Authority , Stockholm , and.
• 19 Department of Laboratory Medicine , Clinical Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital , Örebro , Sweden. 

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Case Study of Posts Before & After a Suicide on a Swedish Internet Forum

Websites and discussion forums have become an important and sometimes controversial source of information on suicide. Using a case report, our aim was to examine the responses, attitudes and beliefs that were communicated on a forum before, during and after a suicide act. 

We undertook two related analyses: a qualitative investigation of the messages that were posted before the suicide and a combined qualitative–quantitative analysis of the messages posted during and after the suicide. 

Nearly half the posted messages before the suicide encouraged the victim to complete the suicidal act, and a surprising number of posts after the suicide expressed excitement, although around half of the posts considered the suicide to be tragic. 

It is of great importance to increase awareness of suicide signals and understanding about how to respond to individuals who communicate suicide intentions on different forums on the internet.

Below: Number of posts in the communication thread over time

Below:  Attitudes to the thread starter's suicide

Below:  Opportunities for prevention

Below:  Responsibility for the thread starter's suicide

Below:  Reasons why the thread starter took his own life

Below:  Perceptions of the images of the thread starter's suicide

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/Vss9Cx

By:   Michael Westerlund, Gergö Hadlaczky, and Danuta Wasserman

Michael Westerlund, PhD, National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm and Department of Media Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Gergö Hadlaczky, PhD, and Danuta Wasserman, MD, PhD, National Centre for Suicide Reserach and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Instituetet, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence: Michael Westerlund, Stockholm University, IMS/JMK, Postbox 27 861, SE-115 93, Stockholm, Sweden. Email:es.us.smi@dnulretsew.leahcim

 

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Women self-graded experiences of giving and receiving oral sex and having anal sex (on a scale from 1 = very negative to 7 = very positive. Results are percentage)

Sexual & Contraceptive Behavior among Female University Students in Sweden – Repeated Surveys Over A 25-Year Period

Objective

To study female students’ sexual and contraceptive behavior and compare these results with earlier surveys.

Design

Comparative, repeated cross-sectional surveys, started in 1989 and repeated every fifth year.

Setting

Contraceptive counseling delivered at a Student Health Center in Sweden.

Population

Female university students (n = 359).

Methods

Multiple-choice waiting-room questionnaire.

Main outcome measures

Sexual and contraceptive behavior.

Results

In 1989, age at first intercourse was 17.6 years vs. 16.7 years in 2014, number of lifetime sexual partners was 4.0 vs. 12.1 in 2014, and number of sexual partners during the previous 12 months was 1.0 vs. 2.8 in 2014. Condom use during first intercourse with the latest partner decreased from 49% to 41% (n = 172 in 2009 vs.n = 148 in 2014: p < 0.001), and experience of anal sex increased from 39% to 46% (n = 136 in 2009 vs.n = 165 in 2014: p = 0.038), and 25% (n = 41 in 2014) always used a condom during anal sex. A total of 70% (n = 251) made use of pornography, and 48% (n = 121) considered their sexual behavior affected by pornography. Eighty-nine percent (n = 291) wanted two to three children and 9% (n = 33) had thought about freezing eggs for the future. The female students’ knowledge about increasing age being correlated with decreased fertility varied.

Conclusions

Sexual behavior among female university students has gradually changed during the last 25 years and behavior appears more risky today. As this may have consequences on future reproductive health, it is vital to inform women about consistent and correct condom use and about the limitations of the fertile window.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/OrFlCc

By:   Christina Stenhammar,1,* Ylva Tiblom Ehrsson,1,2,* Helena Åkerud,3 Margareta Larsson,3 and Tanja Tydén1

¹Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

²Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

³Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Correspondence Christina Stenhammar, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, BMC, Box 564, SE-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden., E-mail: es.alasppu@rammahnets.anitsirhc

 

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