ABSTRACT
This study describes a project to determine the incidence of negative pregnancy tests performed in an urban community for teens 18-years old and younger. Pregnancy test logs were kept at a variety of clinical agencies for a three-month period. Five hundred and fifty urine pregnancy tests were performed; 77% were negative. In our community a large number of teens are accessing health care services for pregnancy tests, the vast majority of which are negative and represent an important opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancies in a population of adolescent girls.
Subject(s)
Needs Assessment/organization & administration , Pregnancy Tests/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy in Adolescence/statistics & numerical data , Urban Population/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Ambulatory Care Facilities/organization & administration , Connecticut , Family Planning Services/organization & administration , Female , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Humans , Incidence , Pregnancy , Pregnancy in Adolescence/prevention & control , Pregnancy, Unwanted , Private Practice/organization & administration , Program Development , School Health Services/organization & administration , Sex Education/organization & administrationABSTRACT
ISSUES AND PURPOSE: To explore services available to adolescent girls at the time of the negative pregnancy test (NPT) in an urban community. DESIGN AND METHODS: Clinician focus groups were conducted to identify the needs of adolescents at the time of a NPT result. RESULTS: Teens access care in a variety of ways, services provided at the time of a NPT were agency and clinician dependent, and strategies for follow-up care often were unstructured. Few services were available for parents or partners. Barriers included difficulty communicating with agencies, lack of staff trained to work with adolescents, and time/financial constraints. CONCLUSION: Adolescents need comprehensive, teen-friendly reproductive care at the time of a NPT result.
