204666 Youth friendliness: How do family planning clinics measure up?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 12:50 PM

Nancy Berglas, MHS , Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
M. Antonia Biggs, PhD , Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Sandy Navarro , Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, Sacramento, CA
Claire Brindis, DrPH , Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  
Young people need access to quality health services to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Whether they are willing to seek out such services depends on many factors, including the youth-friendliness of the providers in their community. While many recommendations have been issued to guide providers in improving their youth-friendliness, the concept is poorly defined and the impact of modifications is largely unknown. In California, the Family PACT Program offers guidance to its network of providers by establishing youth-friendly program standards, offering training, and encouraging partnerships with youth-serving organizations. This study evaluates the extent to which Family PACT providers have modified their environment and services to serve youth, based on a provider survey and paid claims data at 322 sites. The study assesses youth-friendliness across nine domains (e.g., clinic environment, staffing, services, etc.) and examines the relationship of these domains on youth enrollment. Findings indicate that most providers have made efforts to make their clinic welcoming to youth. Many offer walk-in hours (87%), post signs regarding confidentiality (81%), have youth-oriented educational materials (92%), and use age-appropriate clinical protocols such as “Quick Start” regimens (92%), risk assessment (81%), onsite birth control dispensing (77%), and advanced provision of EC (86%). Fewer employ peer staff (54%), offer youth-only clinic hours (34%), and seek feedback from youth (28%). Multiple regression analyses indicate that funding for youth outreach was the most significant predictor of increases in new youth clients served (p<.001). Further research to explore the impact of youth-friendliness on youth enrollment is warranted.

Learning Objectives:
1) Define indicators of youth-friendly family planning services across multiple domains 2) Describe the range of efforts that family planning providers have made to increase the youth-friendliness of their services, and consider the impact of such efforts on youth enrollment 3) Formulate goals for improving youth-friendliness through individual provider efforts and/or statewide policies

Keywords: Family Planning, Quality of Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Claire D. Brindis, DrPH is Director of the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies and Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is also a Director of the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health and Executive Director of the National Adolescent Health Information Center at UCSF. Dr. Brindis’ research focuses on adolescent and child health policy, adolescent pregnancy and pregnancy prevention, adolescent health and risk-taking behaviors, reproductive health services for men and women, school-based and integrated health and social services. She is Co-Investigator of the evaluation of the State of California’s Family PACT program, an 1115 Medicaid Waiver and evaluator of the State’s Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. Dr. Brindis has authored over 200 peer reviewed journal articles, abstracts, reports, monographs, and reviews. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including, the 2006 California’s Family Planning Champion Award from the California Family Health Council, “For Vision and Commitment in Creating and Sustaining the California Office of Family Planning and the Family PACT Program”and the Healthy Teen Network Outstanding Researcher Award, “In honor of the Dedication and Leadership in the Field of Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention”. Most recently, Dr. Brindis received the 2009 Chancellor’s Award for the Advancement of Women.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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