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Adolescents may forego needed sexual and reproductive health SRH services due to a variety of concerns and barriers. Half of the youth reported concerns about test results Increasing age was associated with decreasing odds of all barriers. In contrast, Black youth had lower odds of reporting cost OR 0. Access to SRH services can be improved through strengthening linkages between clinics and SRH education programs, providing youth-friendly clinical services, and ensuring youth have sufficient information, skills, and support to access care.
Previous research has identified common barriers to SRH services among adolescents that include confidentiality, stigma, embarrassment, and fear [ 1 , 2 ]. Additionally, adolescents often cite unfriendly or judgmental interactions or distrust of providers as a reason for not seeking sexual health services [ 4 , 5 ].
Certain groups of adolescents face greater barriers to accessing services than others, with disparities in access based on gender, race and ethnicity, and sexual orientation, among other characteristics.
While concerns about confidentiality and embarrassment are common across youth of all genders and backgrounds, one study found that female youth who were concerned about confidentiality, particularly related to their parents, were less likely to receive contraceptive services [ 6 ].
