TY - JOUR
T1 - Minor Consent Laws for Sexually Transmitted Infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Services in the United States
T2 - A Comprehensive, Longitudinal Survey of US State Laws
AU - Nelson, Kimberly M.
AU - Skinner, Alexandra
AU - Stout, Claire D.
AU - Raderman, Will
AU - Unger, Emily
AU - Raifman, Julia
AU - Agenor, Madina
AU - Ybarra, Michele L.
AU - Dunsiger, Shira I.
AU - Austin, S. Bryn
AU - Underhill, Kristen
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH119892; PI: K. M. N.). S. B. Austin is supported by Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration grant T76-MC00001.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Public Health Association Inc.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Objectives. To assess changes in minor consent laws for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia from 1900 to 2021. Methods. We coded laws into minor consent for (1) health care generally; (2) STI testing, treatment, and prevention; (3) HIV testing, treatment, and prevention; and (4) pre- or postexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. We also coded confidentiality protections and required conditions (e.g., threshold clinician judgments). Results. The largest increase in states allowing minors to consent to STI services occurred during the 1960s and 1970s. By 2021, minors could consent independently to STI and HIV testing and treatment in all 50 states plus DC, STI prevention services in 32 jurisdictions, and HIV prevention services in 33 jurisdictions. Confidentiality protections for minors are rare. Prerequisites are common. Conclusions. Although the number of states allowing minors to consent independently to STI and HIV services has increased considerably, these laws have substantial limitations, including high complexity, prerequisites requiring clinician judgments, and neglect of confidentiality concerns.
AB - Objectives. To assess changes in minor consent laws for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia from 1900 to 2021. Methods. We coded laws into minor consent for (1) health care generally; (2) STI testing, treatment, and prevention; (3) HIV testing, treatment, and prevention; and (4) pre- or postexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. We also coded confidentiality protections and required conditions (e.g., threshold clinician judgments). Results. The largest increase in states allowing minors to consent to STI services occurred during the 1960s and 1970s. By 2021, minors could consent independently to STI and HIV testing and treatment in all 50 states plus DC, STI prevention services in 32 jurisdictions, and HIV prevention services in 33 jurisdictions. Confidentiality protections for minors are rare. Prerequisites are common. Conclusions. Although the number of states allowing minors to consent independently to STI and HIV services has increased considerably, these laws have substantial limitations, including high complexity, prerequisites requiring clinician judgments, and neglect of confidentiality concerns.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2022.307199
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2022.307199
M3 - Article
C2 - 36730879
AN - SCOPUS:85150000050
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 113
SP - 397
EP - 407
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 4
ER -