The Impact of Parental Consent on the HIV Testing of Minors

Abstract:
This investigation assessed change in the use of HIV testing by minors after removal of the parental consent requirement in Connecticut. This requirement was removed in 1992 after a group of teens successfully mobilized a campaign to alter existing legislation and obtain the right to consent to testing. In this study, HIV counseling and testing records for 13- to 17-year-olds who accessed publicly funded testing sites were analyzed. The number of visits increased by 44% from the 12-month period before the statutory change to the 12-month period thereafter. The number of HIV tests increased twofold, and visits and tests of minors at high risk tripled. In contrast, over the same time period, the number of antibody tests conducted among 18- to 22-year-olds visiting publicly funded sites in Connecticut decreased. Minors identifying as White, non-Hispanic (as compared to non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and "other" categories) showed the greatest increase in visits to HIV test sites as well as in actual tests received. The results of this study support the idea that minors should have the right to consent to HIV testing.

Author(s): MEEHAN, Thera M.; HANSEN, Holger, M.D., Dr.P.H.; and KLEIN, Waldo C., Ph.D.

Publication: American Journal of Public Health


Date Published: 8/1/1997

Pages: 4

Comments:
For a published annotation related to this article, see #13027.

Location Code: 13026