ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine parental acceptability of contraceptive methods offered confidentially to their adolescent daughter. METHODS: A random sample of 261 parents/guardians with a daughter aged 12-17 years completed a telephone survey examining the relationship between parental acceptability of seven contraceptive methods and adolescents' likelihood to have sex, parenting beliefs, parents' sexual health as teens, sexually transmitted infection knowledge, and demographic factors. RESULTS: Acceptability was highest for oral contraceptive pills (59%) and lowest for intrauterine device (18%). Parental acceptance of teens' autonomy was significantly associated with increased acceptability of all methods. Parental knowledge of sexually transmitted infections was poor, and 51% found it acceptable for clinicians to provide their sexually active teen with condoms. CONCLUSIONS: Parents were more accepting of oral contraceptive pills and condoms compared with intrauterine devices and implants. Parental recognition of their teen's autonomy was associated with greater parental acceptability of clinicians providing their adolescent with contraceptives (regardless of the specific type of method being offered).
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Confidentiality , Contraceptive Agents, Female , Contraceptive Devices , Parents , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services , Adult , California , Child , Condoms , Contraceptives, Oral , Female , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Intrauterine Devices , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate AnalysisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To explore the knowledge and attitudes that Latino parents have about confidential health services for their teens and to identify factors that may influence those attitudes. METHODS: Latino parents of teens (12-17 years) were randomly selected from a large health maintenance organization and a community-based hospital to participate in 1-hour focus groups. We conducted eight focus groups in the parent's preferred language. Spanish and English transcripts were translated and coded with intercoder reliability >80%. RESULTS: There were 52 participants (30 mothers, 22 fathers). There is a wide range of parental knowledge and attitudes about confidential health services for teens. Parents believed they had the right to know about their teens' health but were uncomfortable discussing sexual topics and thought confidential teen-clinician discussions would be helpful. Factors that influence parental acceptability of confidential health services include parental trust in the clinician; the clinician's interpersonal skills, clinical competencies, and ability to partner with parents and teens; and clinician-teen gender concordance. Most parents preferred teens' access to confidential services than having their teens forego needed care. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies several underlying issues that may influence Latino youths' access to confidential health services. Implications for clinical application and future research are discussed.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Health Services , Attitude/ethnology , Confidentiality/psychology , Hispanic or Latino/psychology , Parents/psychology , Adolescent , California , Child , Clinical Competence , Female , Focus Groups , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Services Accessibility , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Male , Professional-Family Relations , TrustABSTRACT
As part of Healthy People 2010, a national consensus panel identified 21 Healthy People 2010 objectives as critical to adolescent and young adult health. These objectives span six areas: mortality, unintentional injury, violence, mental health and substance use, reproductive health, and the prevention of chronic disease during adulthood. Progress on these objectives was reviewed as part of the Healthy People 2010 Midcourse Review. The review found little or no improvement on most objectives. Expert recommendations call for broad, population-based efforts to improve adolescent health. However, changes in health policy are largely issue-based and occur incrementally.