Confidentiality Concerns Keep Many Youth from Getting Sexual Health Care

By Cara Adler

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

Roughly 1 in 8 sexually experienced youth aged 15 to 25 years who are on their parents health insurance don't use sexual and reproductive health services because they're afraid their parents will find out, according to a study in MMWR. Among those aged 15 to 17, the number is nearly 1 in 4.

Using the 2013–2015 National Survey of Family Growth, researchers analyzed responses for roughly 10,000 young people who had ever had vaginal, oral, or anal sex and were on their parents' health insurance. Among the other findings:

• Females with confidentiality concerns had a lower rate of chlamydia testing than those without concerns (17% vs. 39%).

• Among adolescents aged 15 to 17, those who saw a health care provider without a parent present had higher rates of some sexual health services than those who did not spend time alone with a provider.