A study from the SPHERE Centre for Research Excellence at Monash University suggests that community pharmacies could significantly enhance access to contraception services for adolescents. Published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, the research highlights a mutual interest among both adolescents and community pharmacists in improving access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, although challenges remain.
The study, titled “Contraception and abortion information and care in community pharmacy for adolescents: a systematic review,” reveals that while teen pregnancies in Australia have decreased in recent years, the associated risks for maternal mortality, violence, and adverse educational and employment outcomes remain concerning. Dr Anisa Assifi, the lead author and a research fellow at SPHERE, emphasized the importance of providing quality, adolescent-friendly health services to foster positive health and socioeconomic outcomes.
Adolescents face unique challenges when accessing SRH services compared to adults. These include societal stigma, limited health literacy, and financial barriers. “Community pharmacies offer a promising, accessible alternative, but only if pharmacists are equipped and supported to meet adolescents’ needs,” Dr Assifi noted. Many young individuals lack essential knowledge about SRH, which can impede their ability to seek necessary care.
In this study, adolescents expressed a preference for community pharmacies as an accessible source of contraceptive services despite fears of embarrassment and judgment. Pharmacists were viewed as knowledgeable, yet their comfort level and willingness to provide care tailored to adolescents varied significantly. Many pharmacists themselves indicated a need for further training to better serve this demographic.
The research highlights that this study is the first to specifically focus on contraceptive and abortion care for adolescents within the pharmacy context. It calls for standardised service delivery to mitigate variability and misinformation. Expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice with the necessary support and regulatory framework is essential for enhancing their role in adolescent health care.
Dr Assifi further stated that the findings should not position community pharmacies as competitors to other health care providers. Instead, they should be seen as a complementary option for adolescents seeking SRH information and care.
The study advocates for further research into how pharmacies can be better supported to deliver adolescent-centred care, emphasizing that making community pharmacies truly adolescent-friendly could serve as a vital entry point into the health system for young people.
