School-based health centers (SBHCs) are an evidence-based model for providing contraceptives to adolescents (1). SBHCs play a vital role in providing healthcare services for many underserved populations of children and adolescents in the United States (2). Many SBHC patients lack insurance and may not have regular access to a primary care doctor or health education resources (1). Previous reports indicate that 70% of SBHC patients were racial or ethnic minorities and frequently residents with lower socioeconomic status (3). Offered at elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the country, SBHCs provide a variety of healthcare services on and off school property including sexual health education and reproductive health services (4). While SBHCs are lauded as an effective population-based strategy to support healthy sexual behaviors, their ability to provide reproductive health services is limited by school district policies, state laws, and health center policies (5, 6). A key issue in the provision of services at SBHCs is minors' consent for health care services and the HIPPA Privacy Rule [45 CFR 164.502(g)], which states a parent or guardian has access to their child's medical records. While New Mexico is included as one of the 23 states and the District of Columbia that allow all minors to consent to contraceptive services, the majority of states in the US do not (7).

We used data from the Teens Exploring and Managing Prevention (TEMPO) study to document demographic characteristics and birth control methods among patients at four SBHCs in New Mexico. Data was collected in November 2016 and supported the purpose of the TEMPO study, which was to evaluate a brief intervention for unintended teenage pregnancy. Teens recruited for the TEMPO study were required to be between the ages of 13 to 19, report unprotected vaginal sex in the past year, and not currently have a Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC). Screening questions included these numerous public health-related topics, such as the number of servings of vegetables and fruits eaten per week and questions related to sexual health. The queries related to sexual experiences included asking teens whether or not they have had vaginal intercourse and if so, whether it was protected or unprotected sex. Teens who reported unprotected sex were deemed eligible for the study. Those interested in participating were approved for the study and asked to provide follow-up contact information. Parents provided permission to participate in the TEMPO study. The youth provided assent. After permission and assent was obtained from the teen, a baseline survey was administered via iPad, that specifically focused on questions related to sexual experiences and sexual health topics. Baseline questions included demographic questions, gender identity, sexual orientation, reasons for visits, reproductive practices, and birth control methods. Responses included fixed and scale options. Scales were based on 0–10, where 0 represented the lowest score for example, “Not confident at all,” and 10 represented the highest score, “Extremely confident”. Questions regarding reproductive practices were based on a 0–10 scale where 0 represents “Not important at all,” and 10 represents the highest score, “Extremely important”. After completion of the baseline survey, participants were randomized into one of two groups: intervention or control for the larger study. This paper presents only baseline data from patients at SBHCs enrolled in the TEMPO study. Descriptive statistics were calculated, including means and standard deviations for continuous variables and categorical frequencies. The mean scores presented are based on a scale of 0–10.

Table 1 presents the percentage of responses from patients involved in the TEMPO study and baseline data collection.

A total of 264 teens were included in the baseline data collection at SBHCs in New Mexico; five were omitted due to missing data. Most teens were heterosexual females between the ages of 17 and 18. Reasons for visiting the SBHC varied, from regular physicals (39.8%) to emergency birth control (4.2%). Regarding sexual activity, 87.1% reported vaginal sex in the past three months, and 84.3% reported they used a condom during vaginal sex in the past three months.

Table 2 presents reproductive practices, importance of reproductive behaviors, and methods of birth control.

Patients report having vaginal sex in the past three months an average of 7.62 times without a condom and 7.36 times with other birth control methods. In contrast, patients reported having vaginal sex 5.36 times with no birth control method. Patients reported a moderate to high level of importance to stop unprotected sex, confidence to stop unprotected sex, and readiness to stop unprotected sex (all mean scores >7.15 based on a 10-point scale). The most frequent method of birth control was condoms (42.4%) and the least was the patch or ring (0.4%).

We explored student reproductive health practices at SBHCs in New Mexico. We found that the majority of eligible patients were females, and their sexual orientation varied from heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, not sure, gay, and lesbian. While sexual minority groups must be included as a priority population for SBHCs, they represented a relatively small percentage of patients in the baseline data. The majority were Hispanic or Latino. This is consistent with what we would expect since the majority of patients at SBHCs were Hispanic.

Regarding birth control methods, just 62.9% of patients in this study report they used birth control the last time they had sex. In contrast, 86% of teens in the US report they used birth control the last time they had sex and less than 5% of teens in the US on birth control use the most effective types (12). The most common method of birth control among patients in this study was a condom, this is consistent with previous literature on US teens where condoms were reported by 97% of teen females followed by withdrawal and the pill (13).

Patients in this study are ready to improve their reproductive health practices and report high levels of readiness and confidence about using birth control methods in the future. While similar studies are not available for comparison, we feel that this signifies these patients are ready for behavior change and services provided through SBHCs. Previous studies indicate that increased access to reproductive health services addresses barriers and stigma associated with seeking reproductive health resources (6, 14, 15). Researchers have found that school-based sexual and reproductive health education is effective in promoting healthy reproductive practices in youth, including delaying first sexual intercourse, reducing the number of sexual partners, decreasing the frequency of unprotected sex, increasing condom and contractive use, and gains in academic achievement and performance (1, 3).

One indicator of reproductive health service utilization is teen pregnancy rates. While New Mexico still ranks 10th in the US for teen pregnancy, this is an improvement from previous years. Strides may be attributed to increases in education and accessibility to methods of contraception in a SBHC setting (16). New Mexico has also increased low-cost family planning services through public health and primary care sites. However, continued advocacy and support of SBHCs are needed to close the gap and reduce teen pregnancy rates in New Mexico.

Adolescent populations in New Mexico benefit from having SBHCs in their communities. By having access to an SBHC, adolescents not only have access to a wide variety of treatments and resources, but they also have the autonomy to pursue health care anonymously and independently of parents and guardians. NM SBHCs are often able to reach and assist teens with sexual health concerns when others cannot. They do so by providing easy access to free contraception, using teen-friendly communication styles, and being easily accessible during the school day, thereby eliminating real/perceived barriers to reproductive/sexual health care.