Pediatric providers can improve Black girls’ sexual health, paper says
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Pediatric providers are uniquely positioned to improve the sexual and reproductive health of Black girls, who disproportionately face poor health outcomes, according to a paper led by UIC Nursing assistant professor Natasha Crooks, PhD, RN.
Noting that sexual health education in schools is often minimized or eliminated due to competing priorities and resources, the authors emphasize the importance of pediatric providers to “fill this void.” The paper was published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology in October.
“Pediatric providers can and must adopt evidence-based practices that support and facilitate optimal [sexual and reproductive health] for Black girls,” the authors wrote. “Schools cannot carry the entire burden of comprehensive sex education. Pediatric providers can fill this gap by providing accurate, comprehensive, non-judgmental [sexual and reproductive health] information.”
Crooks and her co-authors make three recommendations to pediatric providers, which include physicians, nurses, social workers and psychologists.
These recommendations include asking pediatric providers to:
- Recognize their responsibility for educating Black girls about sexual and reproductive health and highlight the impact of structural racism on the healthcare experience of Black girls;
- Avoid shame-inducing or judgmental interactions when discussing sexual and reproductive health;
- Partner with Black girls’ families to increase their safety and protection.
According to the paper, Black girls have significantly higher rates of unintended pregnancies, HIV and STIs, and they experience more sexual violence. They often develop secondary sex characteristics and reach menarche (menstruation) at a younger age than other demographic groups, leading to Black girls’ “adultification” – or treatment of children as adults.
For instance, the authors note that providers should consider whether language related to puberty may make Black girls feel stigmatized. “Are Black girls experiencing ‘early puberty,’ or are they experiencing puberty earlier than white girls?” the authors ask in the paper.
Crooks is principal investigator on an NIH-funded study called IMAGE (IMARA for Black Male Caregivers and Girls Empowerment), which teaches girls and their male caregivers about HIV and STI prevention, effective communication, and promotes healthy relationships. Crooks notes that the programming, currently being delivered in Chicago, is one way to engage families.