Research Study

Research Study

Protection of Human Participants

Identify the benefits and risks of participation addressed by the authors?

The report highlights a myriad of benefits and that urban African-American males derived after participating in the program. For example, it explains how consistent usage of condoms by African-American males has encouraged a higher degree of abstinence among them and greater control over their impulse to have sex. This has meant that the African-Americans have engaged in sexual intercourse at a much lower frequency than was previously identified. The report also highlights how feelings of loneliness among the individuals were significantly reduced after participation. A number of risks have also been associated with the report and these are clearly provided to the reader. For instance, the report explains how consistent usage of condoms among participants tends to dissuade them from continuing to use it during a sexual intercourse as it significantly reduces physical pleasure. This is especially the case with male participants who are sexually experienced. Another leading risk that the report highlights with regard to participation is that participants generally tend to feel a strong sense of embarrassment in using them. Apart from this, it was also reported how the participants tended to assume that the consistent usage of condoms suggested infidelity or indicated that they were tested positive for HIV or a range of other STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). Other risks that were attributed to participation were abusive relationships with sexual partners and domestic violence among married urban African-Americans male participants.

Were there benefits or risks the authors do not identify?

A major benefit of condom-usage that I believe has been missed in the report is that it prevents pregnancy among youths when they have sexual intercourse. This means that female participants run a lower risk of pregnancy as compared to those youths who discourage condom usage. One major risk of condom usage that has been missed in the report is that condoms are 97% effective in preventing STDs and pregnancy. This clearly implies that there is a 3% chance that the condoms can malfunction, meaning that there is a risk of participants being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, HIV or pregnancy.

Was informed consent obtained from the subjects or participants?

The report clearly states that informed consent was taken from the participants and subjects at every recruitment site through community outreach recruitment visits. The members conducting the study personally approached each and every individual who had volunteered to participate in the project and informed them about the goals that they aimed to achieve.

Did it seem that the subjects participated voluntarily in the study?

The participation of all the urban African-American volunteers did not seem voluntarily as they were induced to participate with the help of a monetary inducement. The participants were offered US $15 for completing the 30-minute long baseline survey which would indicate that their motivation to participate in the program was monetary. Out of the 364 males participants who were approached, around 136 (37%) were randomized into either of two defined conditions whereas the remaining 228 ...