To limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued recommendations that individuals wear face masks in public. Despite these recommendations, the individual decision to adhere and wear a mask may not be a simple decision. In this article, we examine the decision to wear a mask from a social-ecological perspective. Through critical analysis of societal, interpersonal and community, and intrapersonal influences, it is clear that the decision to wear a mask is multifaceted and influenced by constructs including public health recommendations and government mandates, racism and cultural norms, geography, household income, age, and personal attitudes. Understanding the multifactorial influences on mask wearing during COVID-19 is crucial for informing the creation and distribution of inclusive public health messaging regarding mask wearing now in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis, and in future unforeseen public health emergencies.

Service learning is a 21st-century pedagogy that can address critical health needs found in our communities, and it can provide opportunities for health education students to grow personally and professionally. Universities are increasingly offering service learning as a method to foster collaboration between campuses and partners, to meet community needs, and to prepare students to be engaged citizens capable of working in diverse communities. Health education preparation programs are recognizing the value of this beyond the classroom approach to learning and the opportunities it presents for students to develop professionalism. This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a Latino Service Learning Project (SLP) in an accelerated, MPH community health course for health education students. As part of a SLP during a graduate community health course, students planned and implemented a health education project for a Latino community. Students partnered with a Latino health agency for a nationally sponsored health promotion event. Lessons learned and the benefits of service learning are presented. Students' reflection papers were analyzed and served as the primary evaluation method to determine the effects of the SLP on them. Students reported that the SLP provided benefits to include improvements in cultural competence, growth in health education professional development skills, and personal growth such as an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. Understanding how to integrate service learning into a community health education course may help faculty adopt this teaching method.

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed every aspect of healthcare delivery and training. Few studies have reported on the impact of these changes on the experiences, skill development, and career expectations of medical students. Method Using 59 responses to a short reflection essay prompt, 3rd year medical students in Philadelphia described how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their education in mid-2020. Using conventional content analysis, six main themes were identified across 14 codes. Results Students reported concerns regarding their decreased clinical skill training and specialty exposure on their career development due to the loss of in-person experience during their family medicine clerkship. A small number felt very let down and exploited by the continued high cost of tuition while missing clinical interactions. However, many students also expressed professional pride and derived meaning from limited patient and mentorship opportunities. Many students developed a new sense of purpose and a call to become stronger public health and patient advocates. Conclusions The medical field will need to adapt to support medical students adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, from an educational and mental health standpoint. However, there are encouraging signs that this may also galvanize many students to engage in leadership roles in their communities, to become more empathetic and thoughtful physicians, and to redesign healthcare in the future to better meet the needs of their most vulnerable patients.

BACKGROUND Contraception non-use among sexually active adolescents is a major cause of unintended pregnancy (UP). METHODS In this cross-sectional study we sought to identify overall and sex-specific correlates of contraception non-use using the 2015 Philadelphia Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (N = 9540). Multivariate regression models were used to examine mental health, sexual activity, substance use, and violence indicators on reported contraception non-use among sexually active youth. RESULTS Marijuana use among boys and girls was a statistically significant risk factor for contraception non-use. Availability of illegal drugs on school property in the past year was also significantly related to contraception non-use among boys. CONCLUSIONS These results may inform overall and sex-specific adolescent programs to promote consistent contraception use among urban youth within school-based communities.

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