LICENTIA COGITATIONIS

Multivariable Correlates of Early Sexual Debut, Condom Use, and Substance Use as Predictors of STI Risk Among U.S. Adolescents: Evidence from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Introduction Adolescents in the United States experience a disproportionately high burden of sexually transmitted infections, driven by overlapping behavioral and social factors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Early sexual debut is associated with increased risk due to longer exposure to sexual activity and lower likelihood of protective behaviors. Substance use before sex further increases risk by impairing judgment and reducing condom use (Leigh & Stall, 1993). Experiences of sexual violence also contribute to vulnerability by limiting the ability to negotiate safe sex (DiClemente et al., 2005). This study examines how these factors interact to influence STI risk and whether condom use acts as a mediating pathway. Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public ...

HIV/HCV/Syphilis & Polysubstance Use Disorder for Homelessness  Presentation Script Good evening. My name is Clay Porter, and today I am presenting STREETRx at Valley Health Care , which stands for Syndemic Treatment, Rapid Engagement, and Equitable Transitions . This proposed program addresses the intersection of homelessness, polysubstance use disorder, overdose risk, HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis among unhoused individuals in Columbus, Georgia. The central argument of this project is that these conditions should not be treated as separate public health problems. Instead, they operate as a syndemic , meaning they interact with and intensify one another within a context of housing instability, poverty, fragmented care, and structural inequity. The purpose of STREETRx is to create a low-barrier, co-located MAT and syndemic screening model within Valley Health Care’s existing clinical and outreach infrastructure. Rather than relying on traditional referral systems that requir...

New Projects for Conducting, Teaching, and Publishing Advanced Biostatistical Analysis for Social and Behavioral Sciences Doctoral Research Projects Public Health Program Year 1 Today was the last day of the first semester of my doctoral program in public health at Mercer University, and my professor of biostatistics invited me to work with her on some new research projects for students interesting in pursuing advanced data analysis at the graduate and doctoral-level. I would work with her directly to develop my own skills and then teach students as the education lead for this extracurricular club. It is a perfect opportunity for me to grow my knowledge and practice communicating and developing accessible content for diverse audiences. Together, we will work to publish our research; which will grow my academic portfolio in both publications and teaching experience.  Dr. Lilliana Morosanu is my professor of advanced biostatistics; and, for the first time, I how to apply the analysis...