Sexual and reproductive health protective factors among adolescents with child welfare involvement

Abstract

Youth with child welfare involvement experience disproportionate rates of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks and adverse outcomes. However, little is known about SRH protective factors among youth with child welfare involvement. This study examined whether birth control knowledge or SRH agency, norms, and expectancies differed by gender, age, race/ethnicity, or out-of-home care status among 245 youth, ages 12–15, with open child welfare cases due to maltreatment. Less than half of participants had received information on birth control or knew how to access birth control services; however, the majority reported high confidence in avoiding sex when not desired, strong peer norms for condoms, and few perceived benefits to unprotected sex. Males and younger adolescents had fewer protective attitudes and birth control knowledge, while Latinas had more protective attitudes. This study highlights the protective SRH attitudes already held by youth (ages 12–15) with child welfare involvement, as well as the need for early and gender-inclusive SRH education.