SEXUAL ABSTINENCE COUNSELING OF ADOLESCENTS BY PHYSICIANS

Attending physicians and residents at a southeastern rural teaching ho spital specializing in family practice and pediatrics, as well as loca l family practice physicians and pediatricians, were surveyed with reg ard to their counseling of adolescents about sexuality, including abst inence. The physicians were asked to complete an original. 67-item que stionnaire describing their attitudes and practices. More than 60% of physicians reported regularly addressing the issues of HIV, STD, pregn ancy prevention, and responsible sexual behaviors. About 35% of the ph ysicians reported regularly counseling adolescents regarding 17 other issues pertaining to pregnancy and disease prevention, sexual abuse, o r related medical aspects of sexuality. No respondents felt ''very eff ective'' in their counseling. Some agree they would be helped by addit ional training.