Contraception and Adolescent Males: An Opportunity for Providers
Richards, M.J.; Peters, M.; Sheeder, J.; Kaul, P.
Journal of Adolescent Health Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 58(3): 366-368
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-1972 PMID: 26753546 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.10.011Document Number: 643147
To examine young men's awareness of emergency contraception (EC) and its association with their contraceptive decision-making contributions within a relationship. A convenience sample of English-speaking male patients aged 13-24 years were surveyed regarding their childbearing intentions, contraceptive awareness (including EC), perceived contraceptive knowledge, and communication about birth control with providers and within a relationship. An ethnically diverse sample of adolescent males was recruited with a mean age of 18.9 years. Most had previously been sexually active (75%) and felt it was important to avoid pregnancy (84%) and 61% reported ever having spoken to a health care provider about birth control (other than condoms), but only 42% had heard of EC. Participants who had heard of EC were more likely to have spoken to a health care provider about contraception in the past (51.5% vs. 29.8%; p = .050), to feel they should participate in contraceptive decisions in a relationship (97.4% vs. 76.5%; p = .006), and to have discussed contraception with a partner (76.9% vs. 29.2%; p < .001). Counseling young men about EC, as well as other methods of birth control, may empower them to become actively involved in contraceptive decisions within a relationship if they do not desire fatherhood.
Document emailed within 0-6 h
