Effect of Mandatory Parental Notification on Adolescent Girls' Use of Sexual Health Care Services

摘要: ContextMandatory parental notification for adolescents to obtain prescribed contraceptives is a controversial issue. Recently, legislation that would prohibit prescribed contraceptives without involvement was introduced in 10 states and the US Congress.ObjectiveTo determine effect of mandatory on use sexual health care services by adolescent girls.Design, Setting, ParticipantsGirls younger than 18 years seeking at all 33 Planned Parenthood family planning clinics Wisconsin (n = 1118) were surveyed during spring of 1999. A response rate 85% was achieved, yielding sample 950 girls.Main Outcome MeasuresPercentages girls who reported they would stop using sexual health services, delay testing or treatment human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), discontinue using specific (but not all) because notification.ResultsFifty-nine percent 556) indicated HIV STDs, or discontinue if their parents informed contraceptives. Eleven percent discontinue STD tests treatment, even though survey made it clear notification would occur only Analyses comparing of different ages races from urban vs rural showed that, although the 17-year-olds African American significantly less likely to with notification, roughly half (56%) (49%) indicated that testing or not all) notification.ConclusionMandatory would impede girls' potentially increasing teen pregnancies spread STDs.