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Does Distance Matter? Access to Family Planning Clinics and Adolescent Sexual Behaviors

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Abstract

The study examines the relationship between adolescent geographic access (distance, travel time, density) to Family Planning Clinics and adolescent sexual behaviors, including sexual initiation, number of partners and condom use. This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2005 in 10 California counties, utilized data from NICHD-funded study on adolescent sexual behavior (n = 921), geospatial coordinates of publicly-funded FPCs, and neighborhood characteristics. A series of regression models were used to assess the relationship between FPC distance, and density (number of FPCs within 1- and 3- mile radii of each adolescent’s home), and adolescent sexual behaviors. Significant main effects between access measures of FPC and sexual behavior did not emerge. However, among older youth a significant inverse relationship emerged between number of FPCs within a 1-mile radius and initiating sexual intercourse. While not significant at α = .10, the results also indicate a negative relationship between density of FPCs and sexual partners (b = −.22, p < .15) among older youth. Access to FPCs was not associated with condom use. Conclusions: Results suggest that increased options for family planning services may lead to less risky sexual behaviors among older youth. This finding has significant implications with regards to making family planning resources more readily available to older adolescents.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant Number R21-HD050347-02 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The contents of this paper are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent official views of NICHD or NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Development, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA

    Melina Bersamin

  2. Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Michael Todd & Lillian Remer

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  1. Melina Bersamin
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  2. Michael Todd
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  3. Lillian Remer
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Correspondence to Melina Bersamin.

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Bersamin, M., Todd, M. & Remer, L. Does Distance Matter? Access to Family Planning Clinics and Adolescent Sexual Behaviors. Matern Child Health J 15, 652–659 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0618-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0618-3

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