title: Disparities in access to reproductive health options for female adolescents.
abstract: Fifty percent of female adolescents in the United States have intercourse by age 17, yet they do not have the autonomy under the law to access reproductive healthcare services that can address and prevent the negative consequences often associated with adolescent involvement in sexual activity. This article discusses disparities in access to reproductive health services for adolescents in three areas: abortion, over-the-counter emergency contraception, and the provision of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Suggestions for advocacy efforts necessary to eliminate such health disparities are also presented in an effort to elevate female adolescents to a status where they have the same access to health services that are available to adult women.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0027, USA. gretchen.ely@uky.edu
authors.forename: Gretchen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ely
authors.forename: Catherine N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Dulmus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines