Understanding the attitudes of Latino parents toward confidential health services for teens

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the knowledge and attitudes that Latino parents have about confidential health services for their teens and to identify factors that may influence those attitudes.

Methods: Latino parents of teens (12-17 years) were randomly selected from a large health maintenance organization and a community-based hospital to participate in 1-hour focus groups. We conducted eight focus groups in the parent's preferred language. Spanish and English transcripts were translated and coded with intercoder reliability >80%.

Results: There were 52 participants (30 mothers, 22 fathers). There is a wide range of parental knowledge and attitudes about confidential health services for teens. Parents believed they had the right to know about their teens' health but were uncomfortable discussing sexual topics and thought confidential teen-clinician discussions would be helpful. Factors that influence parental acceptability of confidential health services include parental trust in the clinician; the clinician's interpersonal skills, clinical competencies, and ability to partner with parents and teens; and clinician-teen gender concordance. Most parents preferred teens' access to confidential services than having their teens forego needed care.

Conclusions: This study identifies several underlying issues that may influence Latino youths' access to confidential health services. Implications for clinical application and future research are discussed.