Urban black adolescents who obtain contraceptive services before or after their first pregnancy. Psychosocial factors and contraceptive use
Freeman, E.W.; Rickels, K.; Huggins, G.R.; Garcia, C.R.
Journal of Adolescent Health Care Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 5(3): 183-190
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0197-0070 PMID: 6735834 DOI: 10.1016/s0197-0070(84)80040-6Document Number: 255598
This paper compares three groups of urban black teenagers at their enrollment in a contraceptive program and at a one-year follow-up. The groups comprise 263 never-pregnant, postabortion, and postpartum teens ages less than or equal to 17 years at their initial family planning visit. Self-report questionnaires examined attitudes and information about pregnancy and contraceptive use, sources of contraceptive information, sexual and contraceptive experience, family and partner support for contraceptive use, and demographic background factors. Emotional, personality, and psychosocial factors were assessed with standard measures. Age, partner relationships, and items relating to the mother's communication about contraception and pregnancy were significant variables in the outcome of never-pregnant and delivery of pregnancy. Self-esteem was highest in the never-pregnant group. Personality factors, emotional distress, and social adjustment scores were in the normal ranges and did not differ between the groups. Contraceptive use at follow-up was most consistent in the never-pregnant group. These data suggest the need for earlier family involvement in educating and guiding teens together with access to contraceptive services in preventing unwanted adolescent pregnancies.