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African American youth in the US rural South are at elevated risk for poor sexual health outcomes, including sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy. Historically, the southeastern USA has lagged behind in providing comprehensive sexuality-based education in secondary school, which may contribute to poor reproductive and sexual health outcomes. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of African American youth and adults on comprehensive sexuality-based education in rural North Carolina. Twenty-four individuals (12 youth and 12 adults) participated in both semi-structured interviews and small discussion groups. Data were analysed and coded using inductive and deductive approaches to thematic analysis. Results indicated that comprehensive sexuality-based education was viewed as highly desirable; however, current efforts were seen as insufficient. While both young people and adults agreed that abstinence was the most desirable path for youth, participants also acknowledged young people's autonomy in engaging in sexual activity and suggested that comprehensive sexuality-based education was needed to protect against unintended consequences. The findings of this study have practical implications for addressing challenges associated with providing sexuality-based education to African American youth in rural communities and offers suggestions regarding directions for future research.

Clinical research increasingly relies upon the availability of appropriate genetic materials; however, the proportion of biospecimens from racial/ethnic minority patients and healthy controls are underrepresented, which preclude equitable research across all patient groups for cancer treatment. National Cancer Institute-funded Community Network Program Centers in California, Florida, and New York collaborated with local community partners to conduct three independent formative research studies with diverse (African American, Asian American, Hispanic, and White) participants to explore their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about biobanking, and their experiences with the donation of biospecimens. Our findings demonstrated similarities in overall low knowledge and understanding about the use of biospecimens for research. This was exacerbated for non-English speakers. Racial and ethnic groups differed with regard to a number of factors that are obstacles for participation, e.g., continuing medical mistrust (African Americans), lack of benefit (Hispanics), apprehension about the physical toll of donating (Vietnamese), usage of biospecimen for research (Hmong and Chinese), and suspicion of exploitation by corporate entities (Whites). However, participants uniformly reported general interest and willingness to participate in biobanking for altruistic purposes, particularly to benefit future generations. This interest was framed with a strong admonition that donations should be accompanied by transparency about study sponsorship and ownership, distribution and use of biospecimens, and study information that fit participants' backgrounds and experiences. This cross-cultural regional analysis offers significant insights into the similarities and variations in opinions and perceptions about biobanking and the collection of biospecimens for use in cancer research.

The Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network (TBCCN) is one of 25 Community Network Programs funded by the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities with the objectives to create a collaborative infrastructure of academic and community based organizations and to develop effective and sustainable interventions to reduce cancer health disparities. In order to describe the network characteristics of the TBCCN as part of our ongoing evaluation efforts, we conducted social network analysis surveys with our community partners in 2007 and 2008. One key finding showed that the mean trust value for the 20 community partners in the study increased from 1.8 to 2.1 (p less than 0.01), suggesting a trend toward increased trust in the network. These preliminary results suggest that TBCCN has led to greater collaboration among the community partners that were formed through its capacity-building and evidence-based dissemination activities for impacting cancer health disparities at the community level. (Contains 2 tables, 1 figure and 1 footnote.)

This study examined the influence of masculinity on the coping mechanisms of undergraduate Black men. Black male college students were recruited from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and a Predominately White Institution (PWI) and asked to complete a survey. Survey results (N = 162) showed most Black college men identify with mainstream society or Black masculinity. Results also showed that the type of masculinity identified does determine whether a positive or negative relationship exists with the type of coping method used. In addition, the type of masculinity identified with was determined by the campus (HBCU, PWI) participants attended. Future research directions are discussed. Keywords masculinity, Black men, college, coping, With traditional masculinity, men are taught to not express themselves emotionally as a way to not appear weak or feminine (Wallace, 2007). Research has identified higher levels of substance abuse, [...]

This article describes how a culturally sensitive masculinity scale was developed for Black men using qualitative data. Data came from in-depth interviews (N = 13) and focus groups (n = 4) with 46 undergraduate Black males at two universities (Historically Black College and University and Predominately White Institution) in the Southeastern United States. The resulting Masculinity Inventory Scale (MIS) items were developed using direct quotes from the data. The scale was completed by 164 participants as one part of a self-administered survey. Factor analysis showed that five subscales of masculinity exist for Black men: Mainstream society, Black masculinity, Primary group, Mainstream society/Black masculinity, and Primary/peer group. Implications for future research in the area of masculinity and Black men are discussed. Keywords: Black, men, masculinity, scale development, Through the years, masculinity has been measured in many ways. These ways typically center around gender role norms, gender role strain, and ideology (Griffin, Gunter, Watkins, 2012; Levant & Richmond, [...]