TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Hospitalized Adolescent Males
AU - Hunt, Jane Alyce
AU - Randell, Kimberly A.
AU - Mermelstein, Sarah
AU - Miller, Melissa K.
AU - Masonbrink, Abbey R.
N1 - Funding Information:
FUNDING: Research reported in this work was supported in part by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (K23HD083405, PI Miller; K23HD098299, PI Randell). The funding source had no role in the design and conduct of the study, including collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Funding Information:
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23DA055736 (Masonbrink). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
PY - 2022/11
Y1 - 2022/11
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To describe sexual behaviors and acceptability of receiving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among hospitalized adolescent males. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey of hospitalized adolescents. Eligible participants were males aged 14 to 20 years admitted at 2 academic medical centers. Outcome measures included reported healthcare utilization, sexual health behaviors (eg, sexual activity), contraception use, and acceptability of SRH discussions during a hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 145 participants, 42% reported a history of vaginal sex, 27% current sexual activity, 12% early sexual debut, and 22% 4 or more prior sexual partners. At last sex, condom use was reported by 63% and use of reversible contraception by 36%. Nearly half (45%) agreed that hospital-based SRH discussions were acceptable, particularly among those with history of sexual activity (P < .01). Some (12%) reported they had not accessed care in the past year when they felt they should. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized males in our study had similar rates of sexual activity as compared with the general population but had higher rates of early sexual debut and number of prior partners, which are independently linked with negative sexual health outcomes (eg, sexually transmitted infections). Our participants found SRH discussions to be generally acceptable. These findings reveal opportunities to screen for unmet SRH needs and provide SRH education and services for adolescent males in the hospital.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To describe sexual behaviors and acceptability of receiving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among hospitalized adolescent males. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey of hospitalized adolescents. Eligible participants were males aged 14 to 20 years admitted at 2 academic medical centers. Outcome measures included reported healthcare utilization, sexual health behaviors (eg, sexual activity), contraception use, and acceptability of SRH discussions during a hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 145 participants, 42% reported a history of vaginal sex, 27% current sexual activity, 12% early sexual debut, and 22% 4 or more prior sexual partners. At last sex, condom use was reported by 63% and use of reversible contraception by 36%. Nearly half (45%) agreed that hospital-based SRH discussions were acceptable, particularly among those with history of sexual activity (P < .01). Some (12%) reported they had not accessed care in the past year when they felt they should. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized males in our study had similar rates of sexual activity as compared with the general population but had higher rates of early sexual debut and number of prior partners, which are independently linked with negative sexual health outcomes (eg, sexually transmitted infections). Our participants found SRH discussions to be generally acceptable. These findings reveal opportunities to screen for unmet SRH needs and provide SRH education and services for adolescent males in the hospital.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150031686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1542/hpeds.2021-006489
DO - 10.1542/hpeds.2021-006489
M3 - Article
C2 - 36300339
AN - SCOPUS:85150031686
SN - 2154-1663
VL - 12
SP - E387-E392
JO - Hospital Pediatrics
JF - Hospital Pediatrics
IS - 11
ER -