title: Predisposing, enabling and need-for-care predictors of adolescents' intention to use sexual health services.
abstract: The study aimed to understand the influence of predisposing, enabling and need-for-care factors on adolescents' intention to use sexual health services, using Andersen's Behavioural Model of Health Service Utilisation to organise and test these factors.
  
  
  
  A sample of predominantly Hispanic teens (n=600) in Los Angeles, California completed a self-report survey about their sexual health knowledge, beliefs, intentions, and behaviours. Hierarchical regression modelling was used to examine the incremental influences on adolescents' intention to use sexual health services of: 1) predisposing sociodemographic factors; 2) predisposing knowledge and beliefs about sexual health; 3) enabling factors regarding perceived access to sexual health services; and 4) a need-for-care factor (sexual experience).
  
  
  
  Adolescents reported high intentions to use sexual health services (3.25 on a 4-point scale), yet only 42% reported knowing where to access services. Sexual health knowledge and beliefs significantly predicted adolescents' intention to use services beyond the effect of sociodemographics (P<0.001). Enabling factors indicating awareness of and importance attributed to accessibility significantly predicted intention to use services incremental to predisposing factors (P<0.001). However, need for care - that is, sexual experience - was not statistically associated with intention to use services (P=0.402).
  
  
  
  Sexual health interventions are needed to provide sexual health information, promote positive beliefs about health care, and ensure adolescents' awareness of and access to sexual health services.
authors: Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development, Public Health Institute, 555 12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607, USA.
authors: Nancy F
authors: NF
authors: Berglas
authors: Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, 2001N Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Hucles
authors: Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development, Public Health Institute, 555 12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607, USA.
authors: Norman A
authors: NA
authors: Constantine
authors: Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development, Public Health Institute, 555 12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607, USA.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Jerman
authors: Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, 2001N Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA.
authors: Louise A
authors: LA
authors: Rohrbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D000074384:Sexual Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires