Unprotected Intercourse Among Unwed Teenagers

Abstract

A total of 976 teen-aged women were asked about contraceptive practices in a nationwide survey. 70% of respondents who did not use contraception felt they could not become pregnant; among white women the most common reason given was the wrong time of month while for black women the reason was a belief in subfecundity too young to get or a general belief one could not get pregnant. 30% cited no navailability of contraceptives both black and white. Those who used medical methods were far more likely to cite nonavailability than those who used nonmedical methods. 25% said it interfered with pleasure spontaneity or convenience of sex. 1/8 cited moral or medical reasons. 1/6 said they wanted to become pregnant or did not mind becoming pregnant. These women generally had low educational status were raised by a woman with low educational status and generally were planning to be married within 6 months. Consistent use of contraception is positively related to the mothers educational background and the teenagers educational aspirations. Since most of the teenagers who cited unavailability were from higher socioeconomic backgrounds more attention should be given to health delivery systems for this group. Al so regular contraception is not easy to establish when sex is episodic and when planning is in conflict with the high value placed on spontaneity by this age group.