Introduction

Most sexual health interventions focus on individual-level predictors of sexual behavior. Given the considerable influence of environmental factors on adolescent girls’ sexual health, current interventions may be insufficient to promote safer sex. In this study, we aimed to understand adolescent girls’ anticipated barriers to engaging in safer sex behavior after completing a brief, web-based sexual health intervention called HEART.

Methods

This study used qualitative interviews with 50 adolescent girls who were recruited from community-based organizations that serve vulnerable youth. All participants were 12 to 19 years old (mean age = 15.62, SD = 1.83), and identified with a marginalized racial/ethnic group (58% Black; 18% Latinx; 24% Asian, biracial, or multiracial). Further, 24% identified as LGBTQ + , and 58% were sexually active.

Results

Guided by the social ecological model, we delineate six unique barriers to safer sex discussed by adolescents: partner manipulation, slut shaming, unclear sexual values, present time orientation, embarrassment, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Discussion

We conclude with recommendations for addressing these barriers to optimize adolescent girls’ sexual health.

中文翻译：

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美国弱势少女性健康行为的多层次障碍

介绍

大多数性健康干预措施都侧重于个人层面的性行为预测因素。鉴于环境因素对少女性健康的影响相当大，目前的干预措施可能不足以促进更安全的性行为。在这项研究中，我们的目的是了解青春期女孩在完成一项名为 HEART 的简短的基于网络的性健康干预后，在进行安全性行为方面的预期障碍。

方法

这项研究对 50 名少女进行了定性访谈，她们是从为弱势青年服务的社区组织中招募的。所有参与者都在 12 到 19 岁之间（平均年龄 = 15.62，SD  = 1.83），并且被确定为边缘化的种族/族裔群体（58% 黑人；18% 拉丁裔；24% 亚裔、混血儿或多种族）。此外，24% 的人被确定为 LGBTQ +，58% 的人性活跃。

结果

在社会生态模型的指导下，我们描述了青少年讨论的安全性行为的六大独特障碍：伴侣操纵、荡妇羞辱、不明确的性价值观、当下取向、尴尬以及获得性和生殖健康服务。

讨论

最后，我们提出了解决这些障碍以优化少女性健康的建议。