141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

289729
Providers caring for adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV: Current practices and barriers to communication about sexual and reproductive health


Monday, November 4, 2013

Cynthia Fair, LCSW, DrPH, Human Service Studies and Public Health Studies, Elon University, Elon, NC
Jamie Albright, Public Health Studies, Elon University, Elon, NC
Background: Adolescents with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) engage in developmentally expected sexual behavior. Many have high fertility desires/intentions and low knowledge of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). However, little is known about the content of discussions of sexual and reproductive (SRH) with their HIV healthcare providers (HHCPs). Methods: This cross-sectional study involved the completion of an online survey by medical (44.8%) and social service (55.2%) HHCPs (n=67) using snowball sampling. The survey elicited information regarding routine discussions about SRH and related barriers. Participants were mostly female (n=55), white (n=44), and had an average of 12.0 years of work experience. Results: The most frequently endorsed SRH topics discussed with both male and female patients were condom use (77.3%), STD prevention (73.1%), and screening (62.1%). Topics such as effects of STDs (21.2%) and HIV (7.6%) on fertility were infrequent. Approximately 30% of respondents discussed the risk of MTCT. Specific MTCT prevention strategies such as decreased viral load (16.7%) were less common. Females received significantly more education about SRH topics overall, though discussions about disclosure and condom use were similar for both sexes. The most frequently noted barriers to SRH communication included more pressing health concerns (53.0%), parent/guardian not receptive (43.9%), and personal reservations (37.9%). Conclusions: Providers discussed sexual health more frequently than fertility-related aspects of SRH. The provision of SRH education was disproportionately focused on females. Both sexes must receive holistic SRH-related information. Identifying barriers to SRH discussions in medical settings is crucial to support HIV transmission reduction efforts and maturing adolescents with PHIV.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
Name the gaps in sexual and reproductive health education currently offered to adolescents with PHIV and the subsequent public health implications. Describe the role that offering SRH education within a healthcare setting may have in harm reduction. Identify common barriers to offering SRH education to adolescents with PHIV.

Keyword(s): Adolescents, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the field of HIV since the early 1990's. I have worked as a clinical social worker and have also conducted research resulting in over 21 peer-reviewed publications on HIV-related topics.
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.

Back to: 3298.0: HIV/AIDS and sexual health