Counseling sexually active very young adolescent girls.

Abstract

The sexually active young adolescent female presents herself to the adolescent health program at the Community Health Clinics, Inc., in Nampa, Idaho in several ways: the pregnancy scare; agency referrals; routine physical examinations; the homeless adolescent; and repeated infections. The approach to the adolescent is dependent upon the situation. An important consideration in seeking information regarding sexuality is to be knowledgeable about the individual state laws concerning the right of minors to seek and receive treatment for venereal disease and fertility control without parental consent. The age in Idaho is 14 years. Another important factor in talking to early adolescents about their sexual activity is to be certain that the terminology used means the same thing to the adolescent as it does to the counselor and the parents. The most successful interviewing style, generally, is warm honest, concerned and presented with a gentle sense of humor. When an early adolescent comes in for routine health maintenance activities, her psychosocial development and her level of knowledge about human sexuality are evaluated. Interviewing the adolescent female about her sexual behavior is not always easy. A few potential problems are that clients sometimes lie, mothers may remain in the room for the entire interview and physical examination, and the youth may refuse to communicate. Possibly, the most important help a clinician can give a young client is to aid her in sorting out her feelings about her own sexuality and the use of contraception.