The specific aims of the present study were:Īim 1: To examine the association between OOH placement and ever having PVI among youth in the child welfare system after controlling for age, gender, and race/ethnicity and to determine whether this association is modified by history of neglect physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment and exposure to household violence. The sample included youth administered the sexual risk behaviors assessment module of NSCAW II (n = 1,573). Data were drawn from the Second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II), a nationally representative sample of children who were referred to child welfare because of a report of abuse or neglect over a 15-month period. The overall goals of the current study were to compare SRH indicators (ever having penile–vaginal intercourse early age of sexual debut reported pregnancy) among youth involved with the child welfare system through OOH placement. However, within the population of youth involved in child welfare, the effects of OOH placement on SRH have been difficult to establish.

Background: Studies of youth in out-of-home (OOH) care and adults with histories of OOH placements have found evidence of poorer sexual and reproductive health (SRH) compared with their counterparts in the general population, including inconsistent use of male condoms and contraceptives, higher prevalence of adolescent pregnancy, and history of unwanted sexual debut.

Ooooooh Doctor! by Daniel Herman