Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Needs in Rural ND: A Needs Assessment

• Main Author: Pomonis, Hailey Sierra
• Format: Others
• Published: North Dakota State University 2021
• Subjects: adolescent; behavior; health; reproduction; risk; sexual
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10365/31757

In order to reduce sexual risk behaviors and related health problems, preventative and educational measures must be implemented to help adolescents adopt lifelong attitudes and behaviors that support their health and well-being. Given the period of adolescence is a time of increased risk, positive health practices are vital. The end goal of this quality improvement project is to help form positive health practices during the period of adolescence, this in turn will create a healthy and strong passageway into adulthood. A qualitative approach was used to elicit the perspectives of adolescents, health providers, educators, and parents regarding the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents in rural N.D. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants in each target group. It was evident in the provider interviews that there was a range of approaches to addressing sexual and reproductive health with adolescents. Their approaches ranged from very comprehensive, to more limited in the discussion of sexual and reproductive health with the adolescents they saw in their clinic. The fact that the amount and quality of information adolescents received was entirely dependent upon which individual provider they happened to see means that both consistency and quality of information was compromised. The educators described little to no experience discussing sexually education with adolescents. The only educator participant who actively educated adolescents on sexual and reproductive health was a health educator within a rural school system. The parent participants stated that adolescents need more open and honest education regarding sexual and reproductive health. The adolescent participants gave one-worded responses; they did not expound on any questions they were asked. The interviewer asked for an expansion on their one-worded answers, but the adolescents would repeat what they had said initially. The adolescent participants were asked about sexual and reproductive health messages given to them by either health care providers, educators, or parents. Their responses consisted of abstinence is best, and the consequences of sexual experimentation. If this is the adolescent participants’ truthful answer, it is concerning on many levels.