a b s t r a c t
Study Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and accuracy of sexual health information on crisis pregnancy center
Web sites listed in state resource directories for pregnant women, and whether these Web sites specifically target adolescents.
Design: A survey of sexual health information presented on the Web sites of crisis pregnancy centers.
Setting: Internet.
Participants: Crisis pregnancy center Web sites.
Interventions: Evaluation of the sexual health information presented on crisis pregnancy center Web sites.
Main Outcome Measures: Themes included statements that condoms are not effective, promotion of abstinence-only education, availability
of comprehensive sexual education, appeal to a young audience, provision of comprehensive sexual health information, and information
about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Results and Conclusion: Crisis pregnancy center Web sites provide inaccurate and misleading information about condoms, STIs, and
methods to prevent STI transmission. This information might be particularly harmful to adolescents, who might be unable to discern the
quality of sexual health information on crisis pregnancy center Web sites. Listing crisis pregnancy centers in state resource directories
might lend legitimacy to the information on these Web sites. States should be discouraged from listing Web sites as an accurate source of
information in their resource directories.
Key Words: Adolescent, Contraception, Reproductive health, Crisis pregnancy center