Contraceptive Practices among African American Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Jennifer L. Brown, Michael Hennessy, Jessica M. Sales, Ralph J. DiClemente, Laura F. Salazar, Peter A. Vanable, Michael P. Carey, Daniel Romer, Robert F. Valois, Larry K. Brown, Bonita Stanton
Primary Institution: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
Hypothesis
What are the contraceptive practices and methods used by African American adolescents during their last sexual encounter?
Conclusion
The study found that many adolescents used less effective contraceptive methods, often believing they could identify safe partners, which led to risky sexual behaviors.
Supporting Evidence
- 40% of adolescents reported using dual or multiple contraceptive methods.
- 35 different contraceptive combinations were reported by the participants.
- Female gender was a predictor of hormonal birth control use and less effective methods.
Takeaway
Many teenagers think they can tell if their partners are safe, so they don't always use condoms or other birth control, which can lead to unplanned pregnancies and STDs.
Methodology
The study used a longitudinal intervention design with a randomized controlled trial to assess contraceptive use among adolescents.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported data regarding contraceptive use and partner risk assessment.
Limitations
The study did not assess the consistency or proper use of reported contraceptive methods and results may not generalize to youth from larger cities or rural areas.
Participant Demographics
Participants were African American adolescents aged 14 to 17, with a majority living in low-income urban areas.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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