Nancy Berglas, MHS¹, M. Antonia Biggs, PhD¹, Claire Brindis, DrPH¹, and Anna Ramirez, MPH². (1) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94143-0936, 415-502-4052, berglas@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Office of Family Planning, California Department of Health Services, 1615 Capitol Avenue, Building 173, Sacramento, CA 95814

Among the well-documented barriers to reproductive health care for adolescents are lack of nearby services, parental consent, confidentiality, and costs. In recent years, California has made efforts to decrease these barriers through the development of innovative programs and the implementation of policies that govern the provision of family planning services to minors. Despite these efforts, barriers will remain if adolescents are unaware of services or are misinformed about policies. This study examines the extent to which adolescents participating in state-funded pregnancy prevention programs are knowledgeable about family planning services and policies, using baseline survey results from the program evaluation (n=369). Knowledge of services and policies were found to vary by age, gender and sexual experience. Nearly 70% of older (ages 15-19) and 44% of younger (ages 10-14) adolescents knew where they could receive family planning services. Female and sexually active adolescents were more likely to identify services than their peers. Older adolescents were more likely to correctly indicate that parental consent is not required (72% vs. 45%), that clinic staff keep services confidential (67% vs. 44%), and that adolescents do not need to pay for services they cannot afford (80% vs. 67%). Here too, knowledge was greater among females than males and among the sexually experienced than inexperienced. All differences were statistically significant (p<.001). These and other study findings indicate that while adolescents have a moderate level of knowledge about family planning services in their communities, they would benefit from greater information about policies regarding parental consent, confidentiality, and payment.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the extent of knowledge about the availability of family planning services and understanding of state family planning policies among adolescents.
• Identify differences in knowledge by age, gender, sexual experience, intention to be sexually active, and other key variables.
• Discuss recent efforts in California to increase services among adolescents through program development and policy change.

Keywords: Access to Care, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: This evaluation research was funded by the state of California, Office of Family Planning.