Receipt of Sexual Health Information From Parents, Teachers, and Healthcare Providers by Sexually Experienced U.S. Adolescents

Abstract

Objective To describe the extent to which sexually experienced adolescents in the United States receive sexual health information (SHI) from multiple of three sources: parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. Design Descriptive analysis. Setting 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Participants Heterosexually experienced, unmarried/non-cohabiting females (n = 875) and males (n = 1,026) ages 15–19 years. Main Outcome Measures Self-reported receipt of birth control, sexually transmitted infection/human immunodeficiency virus (STI/HIV), and condom information from parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. Results Parent and teacher SHI sources were reported by 55% and 43% of sexually experienced female and male adolescents, respectively, for birth control information; and by 59% and 66%, respectively, for STI/HIV information. For sexually experienced adolescents reporting both parent and teacher sources, about one-third also reported healthcare provider as a source of birth control information, and one-quarter of females and one-third of males reported a healthcare provider as a source of STI/HIV information, respectively. For sexually experienced adolescents reporting no SHI from either parent or teacher sources, only one in ten reported healthcare providers as a source of birth control information, with a similar proportion reporting healthcare providers as a source of STI/HIV information. SHI receipt was found to vary by gender with more females than males reporting birth control information receipt from parents and teachers, and about one in six males reporting no birth control or condom information receipt from either source. Conclusions Study findings highlight gaps in sexual health information receipt from parents, teachers, and healthcare providers among sexually experienced adolescents, as well as gender differences across information sources.

Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents

“…16,17 In an article published in 2013 on how sexually experienced adolescents in the United States receive sexual health information, parents and teachers were the source of information for 55% of girls and 43% of boys about birth control and for 59% of girls and 66% of boys about STIs/HIV. 18 Only 10% of sexually experienced adolescents reported health care providers as a source of birth control/STI/HIV information. More than 80% of adolescents 15 to 19 years of age received formal instruction about STIs, HIV, or how to say "no" to sex between 2011-2013, yet only 55% of males and 60% of females received instruction about birth control.…”

“…It is also important to provide access to current accurate sexuality education and to provide access to confidential relevant information, services, and support over the course of a lifetime. 18,21 These conversations can begin with questions the family might have about the child and his or her body as well as about self-stimulation and "safe touch." With insights into the typical stages of child and adolescent sexual development, parents can better understand their own child's behaviors.…”

A Mobile Health Contraception Decision Support Intervention for Latina Adolescents: Implementation Evaluation for Use in School-Based Health Centers (Preprint)

“…The most significant challenges pertained to limitations with the technology infrastructure of SBHCs, which included intermittent internet access and reliable wireless and/or cell service connectivity; assuring adolescent confidentiality and data security; communication across multiple levels within a clinic system; staff turnover; and time required for all youth to fully engage in and utilize the multiple features of the app. 14 There are also several noteworthy study limitations. This study focused on an mHealth app aimed at addressing a specific and sensitive health need for sexually active adolescents who seek care at SBHCs.…”

“…Health care providers are a trusted and accurate source of sexual health information for adolescents [14] and while clinical guidelines recommend that all adolescents receive comprehensive, confidential sexual health information and services [15,16]; these guidelines are followed inconsistently [17,18]. Providers often lack the time, comfort and skills to provide patient-centered comprehensive contraceptive counseling and services [19][20][21].…”

Sources of Sex Information Used by Young British Women Who Have Sex with Women (WSW) and Women Who Have Sex Exclusively with Men (WSEM): Evidence from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles

“…The literature reveals a diversity of formal and informal sources through which adolescents receive information about sex. These include parents, peers, mass media, school, and health professionals (Bleakley, Hennessy, Fishbein, & Jordon, 2009;Coffelt, 2017;Donaldson, Lindberg, Ellen, & Marcell, 2013;Powell, 2008;Sprecher, Harris, & Meyers, 2008;Stidham-Hall, Moreau, & Trussell, 2012;Tanton, Jones, Macdowall, Clifton, Mitchell, Datta, & Mercer, 2015;Whitfield, Jomeen, Hayter, & Gardiner, 2013).In the context of Great Britain, Tanton et al's (2015) analysis of nationally representative data reveals that over the past two decades, there have been changes in what young people report as their main source of information about sex. For both young women and men, there has been a marked increase in 'lessons from school' forming young peoples' main source of information.…”