TY - JOUR
T1 - Integrating Pregnancy Prevention Into an HIV Counseling and Testing Program in Pediatric Primary Care
AU - Wheeler, Noah J.
AU - Upadhya, Krishna K.
AU - Tawe, Marie Sophie
AU - Tomaszewski, Kathy
AU - Arrington-Sanders, Renata
AU - Marcell, Arik V.
N1 - Funding Information:
This program was supported by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Family Planning and Reproductive Health supported by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs [CFDA number 93.217].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
PY - 2018/7
Y1 - 2018/7
N2 - Purpose: Certified health educator (CHE)-based HIV counseling and testing typically focus on HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention only. A quality improvement initiative examined integrating assessment of reproductive life plans, counseling about pregnancy prevention, and contraception referral into a CHE-based HIV testing program. Methods: Between February 2014 and January 2017, in one urban pediatric primary care clinic serving patients aged 0–25, CHEs assessed sexual history, HIV risk, short-term (i.e., the next 6–12 months) pregnancy desire, and current contraception method and satisfaction among patients aged 13–25 who had ever had vaginal sex, using a standardized questionnaire. Data were analyzed using a de-identified administrative dataset that also tracked referrals to initiate contraception and actual method initiation. Results: Of 1,211 patients, most (96%) reported no short-term pregnancy or partner pregnancy desire. Use of less effective or no contraception, as well as method dissatisfaction, was common. A high proportion of female patients referred to new methods opted for more effective methods (62%) and initiated these methods (76%); a high proportion of male patients opted for receipt of condoms (67%). Patients reporting short-term pregnancy desire reported higher rates of previous pregnancy and STIs. Conclusions: Program findings highlight the potential benefit of integrating assessment for and counseling about pregnancy prevention in a CHE-based HIV testing program. This can more effectively address the needs of patients with concomitant risks of STI/HIV and unintended pregnancy, and link patients who do not desire pregnancy to more effective methods.
AB - Purpose: Certified health educator (CHE)-based HIV counseling and testing typically focus on HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention only. A quality improvement initiative examined integrating assessment of reproductive life plans, counseling about pregnancy prevention, and contraception referral into a CHE-based HIV testing program. Methods: Between February 2014 and January 2017, in one urban pediatric primary care clinic serving patients aged 0–25, CHEs assessed sexual history, HIV risk, short-term (i.e., the next 6–12 months) pregnancy desire, and current contraception method and satisfaction among patients aged 13–25 who had ever had vaginal sex, using a standardized questionnaire. Data were analyzed using a de-identified administrative dataset that also tracked referrals to initiate contraception and actual method initiation. Results: Of 1,211 patients, most (96%) reported no short-term pregnancy or partner pregnancy desire. Use of less effective or no contraception, as well as method dissatisfaction, was common. A high proportion of female patients referred to new methods opted for more effective methods (62%) and initiated these methods (76%); a high proportion of male patients opted for receipt of condoms (67%). Patients reporting short-term pregnancy desire reported higher rates of previous pregnancy and STIs. Conclusions: Program findings highlight the potential benefit of integrating assessment for and counseling about pregnancy prevention in a CHE-based HIV testing program. This can more effectively address the needs of patients with concomitant risks of STI/HIV and unintended pregnancy, and link patients who do not desire pregnancy to more effective methods.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Contraception
KW - HIV
KW - Pregnancy prevention
KW - Rapid HIV testing
KW - Reproductive life plan
KW - Young adults
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.01.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.01.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 29655517
AN - SCOPUS:85045084621
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 63
SP - 50
EP - 56
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 1
ER -