Information about Sexual Health on Crisis Pregnancy Center Web Sites: Accurate for Adolescents?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and accuracy of sexual health information on crisis pregnancy center Web sites listed in state resource directories for pregnant women, and whether these Web sites specifically target adolescents.


METHODS
A survey of sexual health information presented on the Web sites of crisis pregnancy centers.


METHODS
Internet.


METHODS
Crisis pregnancy center Web sites.


METHODS
Evaluation of the sexual health information presented on crisis pregnancy center Web sites.


METHODS
Themes included statements that condoms are not effective, promotion of abstinence-only education, availability of comprehensive sexual education, appeal to a young audience, provision of comprehensive sexual health information, and information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).


CONCLUSIONS
Crisis pregnancy center Web sites provide inaccurate and misleading information about condoms, STIs, and methods to prevent STI transmission. This information might be particularly harmful to adolescents, who might be unable to discern the quality of sexual health information on crisis pregnancy center Web sites. Listing crisis pregnancy centers in state resource directories might lend legitimacy to the information on these Web sites. States should be discouraged from listing Web sites as an accurate source of information in their resource directories.
Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Electronic address: katelynbc@gmail.com.
Katelyn
K
Bryant-Comstock
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Amy G
AG
Bryant
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Subasri
S
Narasimhan
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Bronx, New York.
Erika E
EE
Levi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012736:Sex Education / Q000592:standards*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescent; Contraception; Crisis pregnancy center; Reproductive health