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Sexual and Reproductive Health in Young People with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Background

Improved survival in young people with congenital heart disease (CHD) alters the significance of a range of developmentally important subjects, such as sexual and reproductive health. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health issue in young people with CHD.

Methods

We undertook a systematic review of the literature from 1966 to March 2004, searching Medline, Psych Info, and Em base using a broad range of search terms. Additionally, we searched the literature for published guidelines on standards of care for young people with CHD.

Results

We identified ten articles that examined patients,' understanding of their heart disease. Seven of them specifically investigated knowledge of sexual and reproductive health as it related to cardiac disease.

Conclusions

In general, young people have a poor understanding of their heart disease. They appear to have a particularly poor grasp of sexual and reproductive health issues, yet they are interested in these issues. Therefore, health care programs for young people with CHD should incorporate sexual and reproductive health information and include anticipatory counseling and health risk screening.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Professor Samuel Menahem, for his encouragement, which led to the development of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    A. Hargrove & S.M. Sawyer

  2. Department of Cardiology, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    D.J. Penny

  3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, c/o Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    D.J. Penny & S.M. Sawyer

Authors
  1. A. Hargrove
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  3. S.M. Sawyer
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Correspondence to S.M. Sawyer.

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Hargrove, A., Penny, D. & Sawyer, S. Sexual and Reproductive Health in Young People with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Pediatr Cardiol 26, 805–811 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-005-0950-3

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