Overwhelming Support for Sexual Health Education in U.S. Schools: A Meta-Analysis of 23 Surveys Conducted Between 2000 and 2016

Five Years of Youth Engagement with Kids Help Phone Canada (Part 2): Issues Discussed Over Phone, Chat, Text, and Peer-to-Peer Services by Age Range

Background: There is substantial unmet need for child and youth mental health problems in Canada. Charitable organizations, such as Kids Help Phone (KHP), are critical to filling system gaps, offering 24/7 e-mental health services outside the formal health care system. Methods: For the 5-year period from January 2018 to December 2022, we describe issues discussed by young people accessing KHP's services, and examine variations across different service platforms and age groups. Results: The most discussed issues across all service platforms and age groups were anxiety/stress, depression/sadness, and relationships. Suicide was most frequently discussed over text and Live Chat compared with other services, and was proportionally most discussed by young people 10-13 years of age on the phone and text services compared with other age ranges. Sexual abuse and violence were most frequently discussed by children 0-5 and 6-9 years of age across services. Discussion: Our analysis provides a unique snapshot into the concerns faced by children and youth across Canada, as well as the issues for which KHP is seen as an accessible place to seek support. Our findings can guide the future development of health promotion activities, and assist in new service development.

Parent Perspectives about Initiating Contraception Conversations with Adolescent Daughters

OBJECTIVES

Parent-youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) conversations are critical to reducing adolescent pregnancy, yet many parents do not discuss contraception before youth become sexually active. We aim to describe parental perspectives about when and how to initiate contraception discussions, characterize motivators to discuss contraception, and explore the role of healthcare providers in supporting contraception communication with youth.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 parents of female youth ages 9-20 recruited from areas of Dallas, TX, with high rates of racial and ethnic disparities in adolescent pregnancy. We analyzed interview transcripts with a combined deductive and inductive approach, with discrepancies resolved by consensus.

RESULTS

Parents were 60% Hispanic, 40% non-Hispanic Black, and 45% were interviewed in Spanish. Most identified as female (90%). Many initiated contraception discussions based on age, physical development, emotional maturity, or perceived likelihood of sexual activity. Some expected daughters to initiate SRH discussions. Cultural avoidance of SRH discussion often motivates parents to improve communication. Other motivators included reducing pregnancy risk and managing anticipated youth sexual autonomy. Some feared that discussing contraception could encourage sex. Parents trusted and wanted pediatricians to serve as a bridge to discuss contraception with youth before sexual debut through confidential, comfortable communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Tension between the desire to prevent adolescent pregnancy, cultural avoidance, and fear of encouraging sexual behaviors causes many parents to delay contraception discussions prior to sexual debut. Healthcare providers can serve as a bridge between sexually naïve adolescents and parents by proactively discussing contraception using confidential and individually-tailored communication.