Knowledge of and access to contraceptive information and services among teenagers with child welfare involvement: A descriptive study across the transition to high school

Abstract

Despite disproportionate rates of childbearing among youth with child welfare involvement, few studies have examined whether this population receives contraceptive information and knows how to access services. This longitudinal study examines responses from 245 youth with child welfare involvement (i.e., youth with an open child welfare case due to maltreatment) before and after the transition to high school. The same youth were interviewed at the end of 7th or 8th grade and roughly 2.5 years later about whether they received contraceptive information or education, if they knew how to access contraceptive services, if they received services, and sources of that information/services. By 10th /11th grade, most participants reported knowing how to access contraception and over half of females had received contraception. However, 18 % of females and 54 % of males had never received contraceptive education or information by 10th/11th grade. Schools were the dominant (often only) source of contraceptive education or information for males, while medical providers and schools were more common for females. Males were less likely than females to receive contraceptive education or information, know how to access services, or receive services. Contraception was perceived as, and in many cases was, accessible once youth were in high school. However, contraceptive information and education was received late and was incomplete for many youths irrespective of biological sex; for males, it was often never received. Implications for adults working with this population are discussed.