Contraception, adolescence, and ethics in Brazil: are we prepared?

to assess knowledge of pediatric residents attending adolescents, including ethical issues on contraceptive advice.

A prospective study was conducted involving 75 residents in order to assess their knowledge, along with ethical issues involved, in clinical attendance of adolescents. The SPSS 13 software package was used for data analysis.

100% of interviewees stated that adolescents have the right to privacy during medical appointments. Yet, when asked from what age this privacy should be granted, 62% reported at any age. When questioned on whether an adolescent could be examined alone, without another person with them in the room, 50% of physicians answered yes and 50% no. 91.7% of interviewees felt that adolescents had the right to confidentiality and medical secrecy, but only 84.8% knew the contents of the Code of Medical Ethics regarding medical secrecy. A further 79.2% felt prepared to give advice on contraception to adolescents.

The attitudes held by pediatric residents on privacy, confidentiality and medical secrecy are highly ambiguous. The doctors interviewed were ill-prepared to deal with the issues of contraception in adolescence on both practical and legal levels.