Reducing barriers to seeking sexual health services: Using data to inform services for adolescents and young adults

background:  STIs among adolescents and young adults are widespread public health concern and a targeted objective of Healthy People 2020. Testing and treatment services are a crucial element of strategies to reduce STI rates, yet many youth do not access these services.  Published literature and national organizations have called for youth friendly clinics that accommodate the special needs of adolescent and young adult populations.  This presentation will discuss how research into the barriers to seeking sexual health services can be used to inform youth friendly clinics and other STI interventions targeted to youth.

methods:  Forty-one youth ages 13 - 22 completed audio recorded, semi-structured interviews focused on behaviors, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of teen pregnancy, STIs, and the impact they have on the community.  Twenty-one community stakeholders, including clinical service providers, also were interviewed as part of an environmental scan. Interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively to detect emergent themes.

results:  There was a large degree of concordance between interviews with youth and community stakeholders.  Lack of knowledge, stigma, and a perceived lack of confidentiality were significant barriers to sexual health seeking.  Additionally, many youth did not feel welcome at existing clinical services, highlighting perceived favoritism towards adults, long wait times, and inadequate hours. 

conclusion: These findings demonstrate avenues to reduce barriers to sexual health seeking and improve clinical services targeting youth including developing confidentiality statements, expanding clinic hours, and providing youth specific environments.