Adolescent reproductive health: roles for school personnel in prevention and early intervention.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Since schools have uniquely high access to youth, they are extremely well-suited places in which to prevent and intervene early in the course of adolescent reproductive health problems. This paper review practical roles which school staff may play in addressing issues such as teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS. It also discusses identifying and assessing adolescents most at risk for these problems and existing regulations to protect students' privacy. School-based and school-linked programs should be tailored to meet the needs of populations served and include effective, theory-based classroom education; confidential health services; and health counseling. Programs must be supported by administrators and other school staff. With health educators, school nurses, counselors, and other school personnel having multiple roles in counseling, educating, and providing care, staff must be knowledgeable about adolescent reproductive health and comfortable discussing it. Further, staff also need to be well-informed about and respect students' rights to privacy.