Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Understanding the sexual health needs of adolescent sexual minority males ASMM at the time of sexual debut will inform programs seeking to decrease sexual health inequities experienced by ASMM.
Participants responded to closed- and open-ended questions about their sexual debut with a male partner, including sexual behavior, skills and knowledge they knew and wish they knew at the time of their debut, and sources of said skills and knowledge.
(mh=5OhVLaUO1RM1gmpR)6.jpg "Babes Everett")
On average, participants were Open-ended responses indicated that participants desired sexual communication skills at sexual debut. Results suggest sexual health programs for ASMM should occur prior to sexual debut, teach sexual communication skills, and teach media literacy skills to help youth deduce credible sexual health resources. Incorporating the sexual health needs and wants of ASMM into sexual health programs will likely improve acceptability and efficacy, and ultimately decrease sexual health inequities experienced by ASMM.
Adolescent sexual minority males ASMM in the United States US are disproportionately affected by a myriad of sexual health concerns, including being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections STIs and human immunodeficiency virus HIV at higher rates than heterosexual teens Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, One particularly prominent issue that likely contributes to the sexual health disparities experienced by ASMM is lack of access to relevant and credible sexual health information that addresses male-male sexual relationships Anderson, ; Nelson et al.
(mh=cm4lPLsYDLh8gvFs)0.jpg "Woman in Everett")
Further, school-based sex education programs that emphasize abstinence and penile-vaginal intercourse leave ASMM feeling marginalized and stigmatized Pingel et al. As ASMM often lack access to relevant sexual health information from traditional sources e. ASMM have been found to model the sexual behaviors portrayed in pornography which can serve to increase their risk for adverse sexual health outcomes Arrington-Sanders et al.
