Health Disparities in Teens
Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. Populations can be defined by factors such as race or ethnicity, gender, education or income, disability, geographic location (e.g., rural or urban), or sexual orientation. Health disparities are inequitable and are directly related to the historical and current unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources.
Health disparities result from multiple factors, including:
- Poverty
- Environmental threats
- Inadequate access to health care
- Individual and behavioral factors
- Educational inequalities.
Health disparities are also related to inequities in education. Dropping out of school is associated with multiple social and health problems.
Overall, individuals with less education are more likely to experience a number of health risks, such as obesity, substance abuse, and intentional and unintentional injury, compared with individuals with more education. Higher levels of education are associated with a longer life and an increased likelihood of obtaining or understanding basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. At the same time, good health is associated with academic success. Health risks such as teenage pregnancy, poor dietary choices, inadequate physical activity, physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse, and gang involvement have a significant impact on how well students perform in school.
Health Risks Among Sexual Minority Youth
Sexual minority youth—those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or who have sexual contact with persons of the same or both sexes—are part of every community and come from all walks of life. They are diverse, representing all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and parts of the country.
While many sexual minority youth cope with the transition from childhood to adulthood successfully and become healthy and productive adults, others struggle as a result of challenges such as stigma, discrimination, family disapproval, social rejection, and violence. Sexual minority youth are also at increased risk for certain negative health outcomes. For example, young gay and bisexual males have disproportionately high rates of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and adolescent lesbian and bisexual females are more likely to have ever been pregnant than their heterosexual peers.
Health Services for Teens
Teens in the United States are less likely than younger children and adults to receive recommended preventive health services in general. Schools can play a critical role in facilitating the delivery of health services to teens, including sexual health services (SHS). Although teens are generally healthy, sometimes they engage in sexual behaviors that put them at risk for certain health outcomes, such as HIV, STDs, and pregnancy. For instance, in 2014, young people (13–24) accounted for an estimated 22% of all new HIV infections in the United States,1 and nearly half of the 20 million new STDs reported each year. Among U.S. high school students surveyed in 2015, 41% had ever had sex and 43% of sexually active students did not use a condom the last time they had sex. Additionally, although teen pregnancy rates have declined consistently during the past 25 years, the rates of unintended pregnancy still remain high. One way to prevent HIV, STDs and pregnancy among teens is to increase their access to and use of SHS, including HIV testing, contraceptive counseling, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing and treatment, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
Several national guidelines for preventive care specifically include recommendations for SHS for teens. Despite these official guidelines and recommendations, teens may not seek or have access to recommended SHS. For instance, in 2015, only 10% of sexually experienced students reported having ever been tested for HIV, and a recent online survey of young people found that only 7% of 15-19 year olds had been tested for STDs in the previous year.
Schools can help increase student access to health services
Schools have direct daily contact with more than 16.5 million students attending grades 9-12, making schools vital partners in connecting teens to health services. School districts can help teens access SHS either through on-site school services or by referrals to youth-friendly health care providers in the community. Many U.S. schools already have healthcare service infrastructure in place, including school-based health centers (SBHCs) or school nurses, and can play an important role in providing adolescents access to information to help reduce their risk and to services if they are needed.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/index.htm
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