Paper
Saturday, November 12, 2005
This presentation is part of : Adolescent Issues
Promoting Responsible Sexual Decision-Making in Adolescents
Jo Anne Weiss, PhD, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA
Learning Objective #1: Explore the barriers that inhibit responsible sexual decision-making in adolescent females
Learning Objective #2: Discuss strategies for promoting responsible sexual decision-making in adolescent females

Responsible sexual decision making is a national priority of such magnitude in the United States that it is included as a health indicator in Healthy People 2010. Though sexual images strongly influence our media, entertainment and clothing styles, Americans find discussing sexual behaviors and choices difficult.

In the U.S. 15 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are reported every year and almost 4 million of these are in adolescents. This STD problem costs the U.S. over 17 billion dollars annually. Also of concern in the U.S., is the number of teen pregnancies. Approximately 1 million adolescents have unwanted pregnancies each year and nearly ˝ of these end in abortion. The cost of adolescent pregnancy in the U.S. is over 7 billion dollars each year. The emotional costs are enormous.

Nurses, the most trusted professionals in the nation, have a unique opportunity to address sexual decision making with adolescents. We encounter adolescents not only as professionals, but also as parents, coaches, teachers, and friends. Yet, we often find initiating conversations about sexual decision making difficult, if not impossible. Often we respect social boundaries to the detriment of our youth. Efforts must be made to remove barriers, both our own and those of adolescents, that inhibit “safe sex talk.”

In this presentation current cultural trends regarding sexual decision making, such as clothing, jewelry and slang phrases that indicate sexual availability, will be discussed. Findings from a research project now in progress, which addresses these issues, will be shared. Creative ways of initiating and sustaining non-threatening conversations with adolescents about responsible sexual decision making will be discussed. Ways for nurses to effectively use opportunities they have to promote responsible sexual decision making will be the focus. Audience participation will be utilized to make this presentation more effective and relevant.