Perceptions Of Sexual Health Stigma Among Adolescents And Pediatric Primary Care Providers In The United States: A Qualitative Exploration

Author

• Avanti ShahFollow

Date of Award

January 2026

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Christina Aivadyan

Second Advisor

Trace Kershaw

Abstract

Background: In the United States (U.S.), young people aged 13–24 experience disproportionately poor sexual health outcomes. Sexual health stigma has been identified as a key barrier to uptake of sexual health services (e.g., STI/HIV testing), particularly for adolescents younger than age 18. This study aimed to describe and compare how U.S. adolescents and pediatric primary care providers perceive sexual health stigma and its potential influence on adolescent sexual health service access and utilization.

Methods: The study utilized existing data from two qualitative studies that explored pediatric primary care providers’ awareness of state laws regulating minors’ access to confidential sexual health services and perceptions of HIV testing access and utilization among adolescents, both in Connecticut and New Jersey. Guided by the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, 16 semi-structured interviews (8 with adolescents; 8 with pediatric primary care providers) were coded in ATLAS.ti using a deductive-inductive (hybrid) thematic analysis approach.

Results: Overall, adolescents and pediatric primary care providers reported similar perceptions of sexual health stigma and its potential influence on adolescent sexual health service access and utilization. However, although providers described confidentiality protections as pivotal to normalizing and destigmatizing sexual health service utilization, adolescents lacked awareness of these protections and reported anticipating sexual health stigma due to potential confidentiality breaches.

Conclusions: Increasing adolescents’ knowledge of confidentiality protections may play a key role in easing anticipated sexual health stigma and increasing sexual health service uptake. Sex education programs focused on harm reduction may also be a critical destigmatizing measure.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

Recommended Citation

Shah, Avanti, "Perceptions Of Sexual Health Stigma Among Adolescents And Pediatric Primary Care Providers In The United States: A Qualitative Exploration" (2026). Public Health Theses. 2645.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysphtdl/2645