Provision of Person-Centered Contraceptive Care to Adolescents: Results From a National Survey of Family Planning Clinics.

Abstract

Study objective: Access to contraceptive services is essential for adolescents to pursue sexual and reproductive well-being. Publicly supported family planning clinics are critical reproductive health safety net providers and are an essential source of contraceptive care for adolescents. Contraceptive care for adolescents should be centered on their needs to ensure reproductive autonomy.

Methods: We fielded a national survey of publicly supported family planning clinics in the United States and conducted a cross-sectional analysis to understand the extent to which these clinics provide contraceptive services that are adolescent-centered. We also examined differences by clinic type and by state policies on adolescents' consent to contraceptive care.

Results: Many clinics have taken strides to provide adolescent-centered contraceptive care, but gaps in this care still exist, particularly among federally qualified health centers.

Conclusion: Gaps in the provision of adolescent-centered care should be addressed to ensure that adolescent populations are receiving high quality contraceptive care.