Core sexual/reproductive health care to deliver to male adolescents: perceptions of clinicians focused on male health.

PURPOSE: Male adolescents experience adverse sexual/reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, yet few providers deliver male SRH care. Given the lack of evidence base for male SRH care, the purpose of this study was to examine perceived importance in delivering SRH care to male adolescents among clinicians focused on male health.

METHODS

Seventeen primary care clinicians focused on male health, representing pediatricians, family physicians, internists, and nurse practitioners, were individually queried about male adolescents' SRH needs and perceived importance to screen/assess for 13 male SRH services using a case scenario approach varying by visit type and allotted time.

RESULTS

Participants were highly consistent in identifying a scope of 10 SRH services to deliver to male adolescents during a longer annual visit and a core set of six SRH services during a shorter annual visit, including (1) counseling on sexually transmitted infection/HIV risk reduction, including testing/treatment; and assessing for (2) pubertal growth/development; (3) substance abuse/mental health; (4) nonsexually transmitted infection/HIV genital abnormalities; (5) physical/sexual abuse; and (6) male pregnancy prevention methods. Participants did not agree whether SRH care should be delivered during nonannual acute visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite lack of data for male SRH care, clinicians focused on male health strongly agreed on male SRH care to deliver during annual visits that varied by visit type and allotted time. Study findings provide a foundation for much needed clinical guidelines for male adolescents' SRH care and have implications for education and training health professionals at all levels and the organization and delivery of male SRH services.