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Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
May Be Reduced by Parent Supervision
Sexually
transmitted diseases are a serious health issue among teen girls. The
highest rates of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) gonorrhea and chlamydia in women occur among
female teens between 15 and 19 years of age. But researchers from The Johns
Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, and the University of
California School of Medicine in San Francisco found that parental involvement
could reduce a teen's risk of contracting STDs.
Between August 2000 and September 2002, 279
high-risk teen girls between 14 and 19 years of age were recruited from an urban
setting for this study. In addition to being tested for STDs, the teens were
asked 3 questions designed to assess perceived parental supervision. The
questions were: (1) "How much do your parents or guardians try to know about
where you go at night?" (2) How much do your parents know about what you do with
your free time?" and (3) "How much do your parents or guardians know about where
you are most afternoons?" Using a 5-point scale ranging from "strongly agree" to
"strongly disagree", the teens were also asked to rate six statements about
whether they felt comfortable communicating with their parents about their
beliefs or problems.
Thirty percent of the teens had gonorrhea and/or
chlamydia at the start of the study and were treated. After 6 months, 158
participants (56%) returned to be tested again and about 20% had an STD. Teens
who reported that their parents frequently knew about their whereabouts and
supervised their activities had a reduced risk of being infected with gonorrhea
and chlamydia. However, having a high level of communication with their parents
(as assessed by the 6-question communication scale) did not appear to have an
effect on reducing the risk of infection.
What This Means to You: This study
focused on a high-risk group of teens, and suggests that parental involvement
has an important role in promoting healthy behaviors in teens. Specifically,
getting and staying involved in your teen's life may reduce the risk of
contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Sexually transmitted diseases can have serious health consequences and may lead
to future infertility. Don't hesitate to talk to your child about STDs and the
importance of prevention. Ask plenty of questions about where your child is
going, who he or she is going with, and what they'll be doing. If your teen is
sexually active, encourage him or her to talk to a health care professional
about testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
Source: Julie A. Bettinger, PhD; David D.
Celentano, ScD; Frank C. Curriero, PhD; Nancy E. Adler, PhD; Susan G. Millstein,
PhD; Jonathan M. Ellen, MD; Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, July 2004
Reviewed by: Mary L.
Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: August
2004