The findings and conclusions in these presentations have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 11:00 AM
A4d

Parental Consent and Confidentiality

Meighan E. Rogers1, Sophie Nurani1, and Susan Blank2. (1) Bureau of STD Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street CN #73, Room 207, New York, NY, USA, (2) Bureau of Sexually Transmitted Disease Control, NYC DOHMH / Division of STD Prevention, CDC, 125 Worth St., Room 207, CN-73, New York, NY, USA

Parental consent requirements for conducting school-based STD testing of minors vary by locality. Active consent (NO, IHS, Baltimore) requires parents to return consent forms for their child(ren) to participate. Non-response may indicate disinterest rather than opposition, and limits participation. Passive consent (NYC) requires parental response to prohibit a child's participation; therefore non-response is affirmative. Parents rarely opt-out their children, however low health literacy and language barriers are obstacles to assuring full parental understanding. Philadelphia requires only parental notification for screening. Laws ensuring confidential STD testing for minors may concern parents who support STD education/testing but want access to test results.