Girls in the juvenile justice system: leave no girl's health un-addressed.
Despite an increase in middle to older aged adolescent females' early contact with the juvenile justice system, inadequate health care remains a concern. This descriptive study surveyed the physical and mental health needs of 130 self-selected, nonrandomized girls aged 12 to 18 years, with a mean age of 15.42 years (SD, 1.24), who were involved with a juvenile justice diversional program located in a southeastern region of the United States. Findings revealed early initiation of sexual-related activities (mean age, 13.9 years; SD, 1.49) and substance use (mean age, 12.9 years; SD, 1.53). The data suggest an increasing need for pediatric nurses, and in particular advanced practice nurses, to provide gender-responsive health care and health promotion services to early middle-childhood females in the juvenile justice system.
Guthrie
Barbara J
BJ
University of Michigan, School of Nursing/Women's Studies, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0482, USA. bguthrie@umich.edu
Hoey
Erin
E
Ravoira
LaWanda
L
Kintner
Eileen
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology