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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ingrid Ochoa, MPH, Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-738-6498, chibchita@yahoo.com

The major health risks facing the estimated 34 million adolescents in the United States today are traceable to psychosocial, behavioral, and economic factors (Irwin, Brindis, Holt, et. al 1994). One out of every five adolescents has experienced at least one critical health problem, and yet too many young people are without affordable and appropriate health care (Irwin, Brindis, Holt et al., 1994). Access to health care services is crucial to maintaining good health. A qualitative assessment was conducted in Marin County, California to examine the health needs of the youth ages 10-18 concerning the utilization of health services. Eight qualitative interviews on perceptions and experiences of potential barriers, gaps, and opportunities were conducted with key informants representing the health and youth service community.

Key informants perceive that reproductive health, bilingual mental health providers, and health literacy are a necessity in areas where services are not readily available. Also, lack of funding for programs and the methods by which resources are allocated are barriers to do interventions. Other barriers such as, transportation, language, cultural difference, fear, finance, and being geographically segregated, hinders the accessibility of the community to access resources and services.

The assessment findings suggest that community youth programs and teen clinic services are assets to youth especially ones that provide recreation, mentoring, counseling, and emphasize youth empowerment, advocacy, and wellness. It was also suggested that through better collaboration and communication among health and youth services, schools, parents and youth throughout Marin County could increase prevention, early intervention, and education.

Learning Objectives: