The Impact of Politicization on Adolescent Medicine Care: A Rapid Review.
Increased politicization of health care, exemplified by bans on gender-affirming and reproductive care, has significantly impacted adolescents' ability to receive safe care. We conducted a rapid review of evidence examining politicized health legislation's impact on adolescents' right to health, focusing on reproductive, gender-affirming, and eating disorder care.
Politicization of care has impacted adolescents' right to health by creating financial barriers and changes in geographic access. For example, state legislative ban on abortion and gender-affirming care have created care deserts in which adolescents are forced to travel to receive care. These changes have resulted in delays in care, loss of bodily autonomy, and negative impacts on physical and mental health.
The findings of this rapid review have important implications for adolescent medicine clinical practices. Providers caring for adolescents require institutional support and resources to address increased patient psychosocial concerns and potentially higher patient volume as a result of restrictive legislation. Ultimately, policy advocacy is necessary to change legislation disrupting adolescents' right to health.
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40124-026-00379-9.
Politicization of care has impacted adolescents' right to health by creating financial barriers and changes in geographic access. For example, state legislative ban on abortion and gender-affirming care have created care deserts in which adolescents are forced to travel to receive care. These changes have resulted in delays in care, loss of bodily autonomy, and negative impacts on physical and mental health.
The findings of this rapid review have important implications for adolescent medicine clinical practices. Providers caring for adolescents require institutional support and resources to address increased patient psychosocial concerns and potentially higher patient volume as a result of restrictive legislation. Ultimately, policy advocacy is necessary to change legislation disrupting adolescents' right to health.
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40124-026-00379-9.
Authors
Stamm Stamm, De Leon De Leon, Stoudemire Stoudemire, Insalaco Insalaco, Shirin Shirin, Martin-Olenski Martin-Olenski, Daley Daley, Stojanovski Stojanovski
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