Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
J Adolesc Health. 2023 Apr;72(4):591-598. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.11.230. Epub 2023 Jan 4.
Texas is one of 24 states that restricts minors' ability to obtain contraception without parental consent, unless they access confidential services at federally funded Title X clinics. This study explores Texas minors' reasons for and experiences seeking confidential contraception.
Between September 2020 and June 2021, we conducted in-depth phone interviews with 28 minors aged 15-17 years. Participants were recruited via the text line and Instagram account of an organization that helps young people navigate Texas' parental consent laws. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using inductive and deductive codes in our thematic analysis.
Participants wanted to be proactive about preventing pregnancy by using more effective contraceptive methods but faced resistance from adults when they initiated conversations about sex and contraception or tried to obtain consent. In the absence of adult support, they turned to online and social media resources for information about types of contraception but encountered challenges finding accurate information about where to obtain methods in Texas without a parent. Only 10 participants were able to attend an appointment for contraception. Parents' increased monitoring of minors' activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with transportation and appointment-scheduling barriers, made it difficult for minors to attend in-person visits, particularly if clinics were farther away.
Minors in Texas faced a range of barriers to finding accurate information and obtaining confidential contraceptive services, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanding options for accessible confidential contraception, along with repealing parental consent laws, would better support minors' reproductive autonomy.
德克萨斯州是 24 个限制未成年人在未经父母同意的情况下获得避孕措施的州之一，除非他们在联邦资助的 X 标题诊所获得保密服务。本研究探讨了德克萨斯州未成年人寻求保密避孕的原因和经验。
在 2020 年 9 月至 2021 年 6 月期间，我们对 28 名 15-17 岁的未成年人进行了深入的电话采访。参与者是通过一个帮助年轻人了解德克萨斯州父母同意法的组织的短信和 Instagram 账号招募的。采访记录采用归纳和演绎代码进行编码和分析，纳入我们的主题分析。
参与者希望通过使用更有效的避孕方法积极预防怀孕，但当他们开始谈论性和避孕问题或试图获得同意时，会遇到成年人的阻力。在没有成人支持的情况下，他们转向在线和社交媒体资源获取有关避孕方法的信息，但在德克萨斯州找到无需父母同意即可获得避孕方法的信息时遇到了挑战。只有 10 名参与者能够预约避孕。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，父母对未成年人活动的监控增加，加上交通和预约安排方面的障碍，使得未成年人难以进行面对面的访问，尤其是如果诊所更远。
德克萨斯州的未成年人在寻找准确信息和获得保密避孕服务方面面临一系列障碍，而 COVID-19 大流行使这些障碍更加严重。扩大可获得的保密避孕选择，并废除父母同意法，将更好地支持未成年人的生殖自主权。
