American Journal of Men’s Health

(Ashton, Hutchesson, Rol lo, Morgan, & Collins, 2014).

Young minority males experience higher rates of homi-

cide, coronary heart disease, obesity, motor vehicle acci-

dents, and asthma in comparison with White and female

counterparts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[CDC], 2011b). Minority men also suffer from adverse

SRH outcomes (Kalmuss & Tatum, 2007). They are also

more likely than other subgroups to engage in risky sexual

behavior such as early initiation of sex and sex with mul-

tiple partners, increasing their risk of genitourinary dis-

ease (Kalmuss, Armstrong, Franks, Hecker, & Gonzalez,

2008; Ohalete, 2007; Ott, 2010). From 2010 to 2011,

young males 20 to 24 years old experienced higher rates

of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections than their female

counterparts (CDC, 2011a). Urologic issues in young

males that are not properly treated can increased SRH

needs over time (CDC, 2014a, 2014b). STIs can progress

to permanent urologic conditions affecting fertility and

general health. Testicular cancer diagnosis is often delayed

in uninsured, underserved men. Evaluating men for infer-

tility or subfertility may help preemptively identify

pathologies that these men may be at risk for later in life

(Eisenberg, Li, Brooks, Cullen, & Baker, 2015; Lerro,

Robbins, Fedewa, & Ward, 2013).

A great number of adolescents are affected by vio-

lence, specifically intimate partner violence (IPV) and

mental health issues, and many lack sexual health knowl-

edge (Fonagy et al., 2015; Gressard, Swahn, & Tharp,

2015; Lassi, Salam, Das, Wazny, & Bhutta, 2015). About

3% to 8% of all adolescents suffer from depression, with

the first major depressive episode occurring between 15

and 24 years of age (Zuckerbrodt, Cheung, Jensen, Stein,

& Laraque, 2007). A national survey of college-aged per-

sons identified that 8.9% of males reported depressive

symptoms within the 12 months prior to the survey

(American College Health Association, 2015). One study

reported that 32% of young adults reported victimization

and 24% perpetration of IPV (Halpern, Spriggs, Martin,

& Kupper, 2009). Furthermore, 59.1% of males experi-

enced IPV in some relationships and 8.4% experienced

IPV in all relationships (Johnson, Manning, Giordano, &

Longmore, 2015). These factors play a role in influencing

behavior and overall health outcomes (Fonagy et al.,

2015). However, the associations are not well studied or

understood.

Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are a sub-

population with increased risk for sexual health adversi-

ties. Although they are approximately 4% of the

population, in 2010, they accounted for 78% of new HIV

infections among males (CDC, 2012a). Minority MSM

are especially at risk for HIV infection (CDC, 2012b).

Factors including stigmatization, sexual violence, mental

illness, social marginalization, and gender role strain con-

tribute to increased HIV rates among MSM (Fields et al.,

2015; Finneran & Stephenson, 2013; Lloyd & Operario,

2012).

Public health studies are not generally focused on men’s

health (Chege, 2005; Kalmuss et al., 2008; Kalmuss &

Tatum, 2007; Saewyc, 2012). Studies focusing on increas-

ing youths’ knowledge and health care access have cited

the need for more research to better determine evidence-

based solutions, barriers, and facilitators for improving

access to and quality of youth-friendly reproductive health

services (Morris & Rushwan, 2015; Oman, Merritt, Fluhr,

& Williams, 2015; Romero, Middleton, Mueller, Avellino,

& Hallum-Montes, 2015). Clinician, government, and

parental concerns regarding SRH needs are typically

biased toward women, despite the association between

male health and the health of their partner(s), families, and

community members.

Due to the unbalanced focus and lack of knowledge of

men’s health care needs, there is a need to close the

knowledge gap in order to guide politicians and medical

professions in implementing evidence-based practices to

alleviate young males’ SRH issues (Morris & Rushwan,

2015). The present study was undertaken to examine the

comprehensive health needs of underserved minority

young males seeking health care services in a large met-

ropolitan area, a population not well studied. Closing the

knowledge gaps surrounding young males’ overall health

can help clinics focus on health care services young

minority males need.

Method

Sample

The study was conducted in free-to-low cost comprehen-

sive family planning and reproductive health clinics in a

large metropolitan inner city in the Southwestern United

States. The system included 10 clinic locations serving

approximately 1,500 young males per year. Study sur-

veys were disseminated among male clinic patients 18

years and older who accessed care from July 2012 to

August 2014. Surveys were only written in English and

only patients who were proficient in English were asked

to participate. The study’s convenience sample consisted

of 258 males 18 to 25 years old who sought services in

family planning clinics or participated in community

events organized by the clinics. Community samples are

highly useful in exploring understudied topics with niche

populations, such as SRH and overall health needs among

young minority males. Based on clinic data, approxi-

mately 22% of male clinic patients did not have health

insurance. Paper copies of the survey were also handed

out to participants during the clinics’ semiannual basket-

ball health fair tournaments. Tournament participants

completed the survey upon entering the facility, limiting

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