Implementing Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Best Practice in the Bronx, New York

Abstract

Purpose: Inequitable access to quality adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) care may contribute to the high rate of teen pregnancy in the Bronx, New York. Bronx Teens Connection (BxTC), a community-wide intervention, sought to increase the number of ASRH best practices implemented and the number of females 12-19 years old receiving services by health centers in the Bronx.

Methods: To promote best practices, BxTC provided training and technical assistance to partnering health centers from 2011 to 2014. Health center staff completed a 26-item survey annually to document clinic practices and service utilization. Significance of changes was assessed with paired t tests.

Results: BxTC provided 285 hours of training and technical assistance to 12 partnering health centers. Eight health centers consistently completed the survey. Of the possible 31 ASRH best practices, the average number implemented increased from 23 in 2011 to 28 in 2014. Increases in unduplicated female adolescent patients were observed among Hispanics/Latinas (p = .026) and all females aged 15-17 (p = .035). Contraceptive coverage reported by six of the eight health centers increased among Hispanic/Latinas (32%-55%, p = .006), patients ages 15-17 (33%-53%, p = .005), and patients 18-19 (38%-56%, p = .036). The total number of hormonal implants provided to teens increased from two in 2011 to 173 in 2014.

Conclusions: Other jurisdictions may consider prioritizing clinical linkages in order to improve ASRH outcomes by supporting best practices and expanding access to services in the most disinvested neighborhoods.

Keywords: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health; School-linked healthcare; Teen healthcare access; Teen pregnancy prevention; Urban health; clinics.