Approaches to Health Management: Sexuality A father of a 17-year-old wants to know whether his child is sexually active. What will you tell him? What if the child is 14 years old? What if the child is 11 years old? What is your state law regarding parental notification? FloridaSubmission Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at

A father of a 17-year-old wants to know whether his child is sexually active.   

Adolescents prioritize confidentiality protection in the provision of excellent healthcare. This group is characterized by high rates of death and disease due to drug use, unprotected intercourse, and mental health problems. Adolescents may provide sensitive information readily if they trust that the physician will maintain confidentiality from their parents. Primary carers should address confidentiality problems with the parent or guardian and the teenager (Savoy et al., 2020). Physicians must uphold patient confidentiality and privacy while promoting communication between parents and adolescents since parental support greatly aids teenagers in meeting healthcare needs. Primary carers cannot provide absolute secrecy, particularly where there is a risk of injury.

What if the child is 14 years old?

The primary carer is obligated to provide truthful information to the parent. Therefore, it would be advisable for him to suggest that the father engage in a conversation with his child rather than imposing communication. The PCP should reassure the father that he will be promptly notified of an imminent danger involving his child (Savoy et al., 2020). Adolescents must have a trusting relationship with their primary carers to feel comfortable sharing sensitive information that could impact their healthcare. During this stage, the primary carer needs to emphasize to the guardian that they share common objectives and are focused on the well-being of the adolescent.

What if the child is 11 years old?

At eleven years old, the kid enters the pre-adolescent stage, characterized by the beginning of puberty changes. Currently, youngsters are familiar with sexuality and are prepared to talk about reproduction and sexual behavior. It is crucial to include the parent by explaining the anticipated rise in privacy from the teenager and the potential humiliation caused by these changes. Between the ages of ten and twelve, youngsters show increased involvement with their sexual thoughts, relationships, and behavior (Yao et al., 2022). The main carer should promote parent-adolescent dialogue around menstruation or sperm release to prevent teenagers from being taken aback. Topics, including adolescent pregnancy, social pressure, and HPV immunization, should be discussed, taking into account the teenager’s views. This is an opportune moment for parents and adolescents to engage in conversations about sexual orientation. The primary care provider is well-suited to address issues related to sexual identity, behaviors, and desires with teenagers.

What is your state law regarding parental notification? Florida

            Section 1014.04 of the Florida Statutes affords parental rights to minor child parents without state, political subdivision, or other institutional interference (Sharko et al., 2022). Unless otherwise authorized by law or court order, these rights include the ability to direct one’s education, upbringing, enrollment in public or private institutions, access to school records, healthcare decision-making, review of medical records, authorization prior to biometric scanning, DNA records, and video or voice recordings. Consequently, Chapter 390 Section 01114 of the 2019 Florida Statutes mandates that prior to performing or inducing the termination of a minor’s pregnancy, the physician performing or inducing the termination of pregnancy shall provide actual notice. The referring physician may provide notification.

References

Savoy, M., O&Apos; Gurek, D., & Brown-James, A. (2020, March 1). Sexual Health History: Techniques and tips. AAFP. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0301/p286.html

Sharko, M., Jameson, R., Ancker, J. S., Krams, L., Webber, E. C., & Rosenbloom, S. T. (2022). State-by-state variability in adolescent privacy laws. Pediatrics, 149(6). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-053458

Yao, J., Ziapour, A., Abbas, J., Toraji, R., & NeJhaddadgar, N. (2022). Assessing puberty-related health needs among 10–15-year-old boys: A cross-sectional study approach. Archives De Pédiatrie, 29(4), 307–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2021.11.018