Abstract
Purpose: To determine whether or not critical sexual health services are delivered to low-income girls, and to identify predictors of timely initiation of gynecologic care for sexually active adolescent girls. Few studies have addressed the interval between sexual debut and risk-appropriate primary care services. Methods: We conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional, laptop-based, self-administered branching survey of 9th-12th grade girls in three Bronx public high schools (n = 819). Results: Over half (60.0%) had an opportunity for confidential care at last clinical visit. Only 27% of sexually active girls had informed any clinician that they had been sexually active; 45% had ever had a pelvic exam. The mean interval between sexual debut and initial pelvic exam (our proxy for gynecologic care) was 13.3 months (range = 0-70 months, SD = 11.8 months). Cox proportional hazard modeling identified four predictors of time to first pelvic exam: experience of sexually transmitted infection (STI) or pregnancy (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.9), having disclosed sexual activity to any clinician (HR = 1.7), access to confidential care (HR = 3.1), and high self-efficacy for accessing confidential care (HR = 2.1). Conclusions: Most sexually active girls have not told a clinician that they are sexually active and many have not had counseling related to sexual health. Delay between sexual debut and initial pelvic exam is substantial for low-income urban girls, and often occurs in reaction to pregnancy or STI. Setting of usual care does not predict timely gynecologic care, but access to confidential care does.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 183-191 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Adolescent Health |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2006 |
Keywords
- Adolescence
- Female
- Gynecology
- Minorities
- Primary care
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health