Abstract
Confidentiality is a major determinant of the accessibility and acceptability of sexual and reproductive health care for adolescents. Previous research has revealed that Lithuanian adolescents lack confidence in guarantees of confidentiality in primary health care settings. This study aimed to assess the factors that affect general practitioners' decisions whether to respect confidentiality for Lithuanian adolescents under the age of 18. Twenty in-depth interviews were carried out with a purposive sample of general practitioners. The decision whether to respect confidentiality was found to be influenced by external forces, including the legislative framework and societal attitudes towards adolescent sexuality; institutional features in clinical facilities, such as the presence of a nurse during consultations and the openness of the medical record filing system; and individual factors, including GPs' relationships with adolescents' families and their personal attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health issues. The findings reflect the urgent need for a comprehensive policy to ensure adolescents' right to confidentiality in Lithuanian primary care settings, including legislative reforms, institutional changes in health care settings, professional guidelines and (self-)regulation, and changes in medical training and continuing medical education. Other ways to safeguard confidentiality in adolescent health services, such as establishing youth clinics, should also be explored. (c) 2006 Reproductive Health Matters. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 129-137 |
Journal | Reproductive Health Matters |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 27 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Environmental Health and Occupational Health
Free keywords
- Lithuania
- sexual and reproductive health
- general practitioners
- confidentiality
- adolescents and young people
- reproductive rights