Sexual health needs among migrant adolescents: Implications for the reorganisation of health services

Background: In Italy, local health services are facing increasing requests of counselling and intervention over sexual risk behaviours, unwanted pregnancies, STD and abortion among migrant adolescents. Aim of this study is to investigate risk factors and obstacles in the use of preventative health services among this population in order to devise appropriate interventions. Method: An intervention programme was developed including a preliminary questionnaire study on a sample of 500 migrant adolescents (14–21-year-old) and a sample of Italian peers; interviews and focus groups with parents, health and social workers. Findings: Risk factors for this population include access to information on risk behaviours, prevention practices, health services; types of sources of information used and sexual practices associated with cultural factors. Risk and protective factors are partly culture-specific and differ according to the degree of acculturation. Discussion: We will discuss the implications for interventions by local health services for this population