Associations Between Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication and Health Service Use Among U.S. Adolescent Women

According to this study, teens who received information only about abstinence were less likely than others to have sought out the services that are necessary to improving their sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Even among sexually experienced teens, the data suggest that those who received abstinence-only information from parents were less likely than others to use sexual and reproductive health services.  The authors suggest that further investigation is needed to determine whether comprehensive sexual and reproductive health communication facilitates teens’ use of sexual and reproductive health care services, and whether abstinence-only information deters teens’ use of these services.

This article was taken from Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Volume 44, Number 1, March 2012

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Examining State-Level Patterns in Teen Childbearing: 1991-2009

Child Trends’ latest brief uses state-level data to examine declines in the teen birth rate over 19 years.  The brief describes variation across states during this time frame, in the degree of decline and in patterns over time.

This article was taken from Child Trends

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US Pediatricians Recommend Routine HPV Vaccination For Boys

As part of a revised standard published this week, the American Academy of Pediatrics says boys should be routinely vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that is spread through sexual contact.

This article was taken from Medical News Today

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Human Papillomavirus Vaccine and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescent and Young Women

This study highlights disparities in HPV vaccine initiation by insurance status among girls/women aged 15-24 years and by race/ethnicity among women aged over 19 years. No association was found between HPV vaccination and risky sexual behavior.

This article was taken from American Journal of Preventative Medicine

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Youth Awareness of a Minor’s Right to Access Reproductive Health Services Independently

Recent data from the Section of Family Planning & Contraceptive Research suggests that youth need more information about their ability to access reproductive health care services on their own. This brief highlights findings from a recent study conducted in spring of 2011 in Illinois. The study revealed that a number of teens were not aware that Illinois minors could legally access the following services without parental permission: medical care when pregnant, contraception, abortion, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Special laws grant minors access to these services; this brief explores the reasons for such laws and the importance of teen awareness in serving the purpose of the laws. The study findings suggest that more should be done to educate teens so they will be encouraged to seek care.

This article was taken from University of Chicago Medical Center

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Births: Preliminary Data for 2010

The birth rate for U.S. teenagers 15-19 years dropped 9 percent to 34.3 per 1,000, a record low for the Nation and declined to historic lows for younger and older teenagers and for all race and Hispanic origin groups.

This article was taken from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics

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Expecting Success: How Policymakers and Educators Can Help Teen Parents Stay in School

The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy released The Promise Project Report from findings and policy recommendations based on data collected from teen parents, teen parent service providers, and educators. The research presented in the report reveals that many teens who were headed toward dropping out become re-committed to school once they become parents. The research also demonstrates that too often these youth do not reach their graduation goals, because they need family, schools, and teen parent programs that both support them and set high expectations for their success.

This article was taken from The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

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Many Teens Endure Sexual Harassment

Based on the first nationally representative survey in a decade of students in grades 7-12, the study, which was set for release this week by the American Association of University Women, found that 48 percent of nearly 2,000 students surveyed had experienced verbal, physical, or online sexual harassment at school during the 2010-11 school year.

This article was taken from Education Week

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Policy Statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Adolescents and HIV Infection: The Pediatrician’s Role in Promoting Routine Testing

This policy statement reviews the epidemiologic data and recommends that routine screening be offered to all adolescents at least once by 16 to 18 years of age in health care settings when the prevalence of HIV in the patient population is more than 0.1%. In areas of lower community HIV prevalence, routine HIV testing is encouraged for all sexually active adolescents and those with other risk factors for HIV. This statement addresses many of the real and perceived barriers that pediatricians face in promoting routine HIV testing for their patients.

This article was taken from Pediatrics, 2011

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Association Between STDs and Self-Reported Abstinence

In this national study of young adults, findings indicate a discrepancy between positive STD status and self-reported sexual behavior. From a clinical standpoint, the discrepancies between STD positivity and self-reported sexual behavior observed suggest that routine STD screening may be beneficial and necessary to reduce STD morbidity among young adults.

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