Publications > Adolescent sexual health

Neighborhoods matter: A systematic review of neighborhood characteristics and adolescent reproductive health outcomes

This review examines the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and adolescent pregnancy, contraceptive use, when adolescents start having sex, and birthrate. The studies they looked at found consistent associations between poverty, education, and employment with adolescent sexual health outcomes.

  • Decker MJ, Isquick S, Tilley L, Zhi Q, Gutman A, Luong W, Brindis CD. Health & Place. November 2018.

Assessing youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services: a systematic review

This review by the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF found that there is currently no consensus on how to measure the effectiveness of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.

  • Mazur A, Brindis CD, Decker MJ. BMC Health Services Research. March 2018.

'He supported me 100%': Mexican-immigrant fathers, daughters and adolescent sexual health

This study shows that policies that keep families together and give them access to employment may directly affect children and adolescents. Exploitation of immigrants and policies that separate families undermine their sexual and reproductive health.

  • Coleman-Minahan K, Samari G. Ethnicity & Health. February 2018. 

Racial/ethnic differences in young women's health-promoting strategies to reduce vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections

This study finds that over 90 percent of young women report using at least one strategy to protect themselves from acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the types of strategies used by young women differ along racial/ethnic lines.

  • Cipres D, Rodriguez A, Alvarez J, Stern L, Steinauer J, Seidman D. Journal of Adolescent Health. May 2017.

Rural-urban differences in awareness and use of family planning services among adolescent women in California

These findings suggest that adolescents in rural areas face greater barriers to accessing family planning services than adolescents in urban areas.

  • Yarger J, Decker MJ, Campa MI, Brindis CD. Journal of Adolescent Health. April 2017. 

Exploring how residential mobility and migration influences teenage pregnancy in five rural communities in California: youth and adult perceptions

Over 90 percent of young women report using at least one strategy to protect themselves from acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the types of strategies used by young women differ along racial/ethnic lines.

  • Cipres D, Rodriguez A, Alvarez J, Stern L, Steinauer J, Seidman D. Journal of Adolescent Health. February 2017.

Exploring how residential mobility and migration influences teenage pregnancy in five rural communities in California: youth and adult perceptions

Migration due to seasonal jobs, economic changes and housing transitions affects adolescents’ access to health systems, highlighting the need for services in immigrant communities.

  • Lara D, Decker MJ, Brindis CD. Culture, Health & Sexuality. September 2016.

A call to action: Developing and strengthening new strategies to promote adolescent sexual health

A review article affirming that we can further reduce accidental pregnancy among adolescents through strategies like sex education and improved access to birth control.

  • Decker MJ, Berglas NF, Brindis CD. Societies. October 2015.

Association of access to publicly funded family planning services with teen birth rates in California counties

Efforts to reduce adolescent birth rates, specifically in counties that had persistently high rates, are critical to achieving a healthy future for the state and the nation. The Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (PACT) program played a crucial role in helping adolescents avoid unintended and early childbearing.

  • Chabot M, Navarro S, Swann D, Darney P, Thiel de Bocanegra H. American Journal of Public Health. February 2014.

Young women’s perceived benefits of childbearing: association with subsequent contraceptive use and pregnancy

To better assess pregnancy risk among young women wanting to avoid pregnancy, it may be useful to acknowledge that they hold not only explicit pregnancy desires, but also beliefs about the benefits of childbearing, which may influence sexual behavior and pregnancy.

  • Rocca CH, Harper CC, Raine TR. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. March 2013.

An over-the-counter simulation study of a single tablet emergency contraceptive in young females

Restricting young females' use of a single-tablet emergency contraceptive by prescription only is not warranted, because females younger than 17 years can use it in a manner consistent with over-the-counter access.

  • Harper CC. Obstetrics & Gynecology. April 2012.

Cost savings from the provision of specific methods of contraception in a publicly funded program

This article examines the cost-effectiveness of contraceptive methods dispensed in 2003 to 955,000 women in Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (PACT), California's publicly funded family planning program.

  • Foster DG, Rostovtseva DP, Brindis CD, Biggs MA, Hulett D, Darney PD. American Journal of Public Health. March 2009.

Mandating parental involvement in adolescents' abortion: implications of a short-sighted policy

Teenagers, parents and health care providers will benefit if fewer states enforce shortsighted policies that mandate parental involvement in adolescent's abortion decisions.

  • Ralph L, Brindis C, Shields WC. Contraception. February 2006.

The impact of increased access to emergency contraception among young adolescents

Young adolescents with improved access to EC used the method more frequently when needed, but did not compromise their use of routine contraception nor increase their sexual risk behavior.

  • Harper CC, Rocca C, Cheong M, Darney PD, Raine T. Obstetrics & Gynecology. September 2005.