Risky Sexual Behavior and Negative Health Consequences Among Incarcerated Female Adolescents: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice

Abstract

Young female offenders are at a heightened risk of participating in unsafe sexual behaviors. Juvenile detention facilities are important venues for screening such youth for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and other preventable health conditions. Recognition of sexual risk behaviors and their health consequences increases the need to provide interventions that address sex-linked risk behaviors. However, detection and treatment of STDs within juvenile correctional facilities are often lacking or non-existent, and youth often suffer from such conditions prior to, during and after their incarceration. This chapter describes a pilot STD case management program to identify risk factors for Chlamydia and gonorrhea among a sample of 540 case records of STD positive, incarcerated female adolescents who completed a health risk assessment in a California juvenile detention facility between January 2006 and June 2007. The chapter first reviews some of the specific risk factors for female delinquency and participation in risky sexual behaviors. From here, STDs among incarcerated juvenile females are discussed, as well as some challenges in delivering health-related services to this population. The chapter then provides an overview of the pilot STD program, including data about the participants. Finally, the implications for policy and prevention programming among incarcerated female adolescents in terms of their sexual risk behaviors are discussed.