Confidentiality issues impact use of STD services for youth

(HealthDay)—For adolescents and young adults, confidentiality-related concerns are associated with less use of sexually transmitted disease (STD) services, according to a report published in the March 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Jami S. Leichliter, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues examined use of STD services and confidentiality-related issues among persons aged 15 to 25 years using data from the 2013 to 2015 National Survey of Family Growth.

The researchers found that 12.7 percent of sexually experienced youths on their parent's insurance plan would not seek sexual and reproductive health care due to concerns that their parents might find out. Those aged 15 to 17 years were particularly concerned (22.6 percent). Compared to females without concerns, those with confidentiality concerns regarding seeking sexual and reproductive health care reported a lower prevalence of receipt of chlamydia screening (17.1 versus 38.7 percent). Compared to adolescents aged 15 to 17 years who did not spend time alone with a health care provider (without a parent in the room), those who did spend time alone reported higher receipt of a sexual risk assessment (71.1 versus 36.6 percent), and, among females, chlamydia testing (34.0 versus 14.9 percent).

"The results indicated that confidentiality-related issues were associated with less reported use of some STD services, especially for younger persons and females," the authors write.