birth control
Knowledge and use of birth control methods in active duty Army enlisted medical trainees.

Battista RM, Creedon JF Jr, Salyer SW.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA.

This study was designed to determine the familiarity of medical advanced individual training (AIT) students with current methods of birth control and to evaluate the accessibility of these methods. A survey was distributed to 578 medical specialist AIT students assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for training. Results obtained show a lack of knowledge concerning the newer forms of contraceptives available. This study also indicates that barriers may exist that limit a soldier's ability to acquire prescription forms of contraception while in training.

PIP: This cross-sectional study evaluates the knowledge and use of contraceptives in medical advanced individual training students and the availability of these contraceptive methods. A 15-item proctored self-administered questionnaire was given to 564 soldiers from the 232nd Medical Battalion assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Results revealed that majority of the active duty service members were well informed on the current birth control methods. About 55.6% females and 50.8% males reported knowing emergency contraceptive pills as a method of pregnancy prevention. Condom was reportedly the most popular method of contraception among 98.8% females and 99.4% males. Lack of knowledge on newer forms of contraceptive devices was observed. Inability of obtaining contraceptives was due to unavailability of condoms, lack of time for routine check-ups, barriers in the medical system, and a general lack of information.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10377708&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Reproductive issues in HIV-seropositive women: a survey regarding counseling, contraception, safer sex, and pregnancy choices.

Duggan J, Walerius H, Purohit A, Khuder S, Bowles M, Carter S, Kosy M, Locher A, O'Neil K, Gray A, Chakraborty J.

Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, USA.

Sixty-nine HIV-seropositive women were surveyed with regard to the reproductive counseling they had received, contraception, safer sex practices, pregnancy histories, and pregnancy plans. Of the women surveyed, 84% and 90%, respectively, felt that they had access to the birth control and safer sex methods of their choice. Less than half felt that their physician had adequately counseled them about birth control. Women primarily cited social workers (46.4%) or nurses (34.8%) as the counseling source for birth control and safer sex. When informed about the reduced risk of vertical transmission with zidovudine (AZT), 33 women indicated that information regarding AZT would affect their future pregnancy decisions. Health care professionals need to be aware of this and counsel patients accordingly.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10491805&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Adolescents' perceptions of maternal disapproval of sex: relationship to sexual outcomes.

Dittus PJ, Jaccard J.

Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between adolescents' perceptions of maternal abstinence attitudes, adolescent-maternal relationship satisfaction, and the occurrence in the ensuing 12 months of: (a) sexual intercourse, (b) the use of birth control at intercourse, and (c) the occurrence of pregnancy. We also examined the accuracy of adolescents in perceiving the attitudes of their mothers as well as factors that predicted underestimations of these attitudes. Finally, the study evaluated the relative predictive power of adolescent perceptions of maternal abstinence attitudes and the actual maternal abstinence attitudes. METHODS: This was a prospective study using a subsample of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health database, which is a nationally representative school-based sample. The sample for the present study was approximately 10,000 adolescents in grades 7 to 11 who completed 2 interviews in their homes at a 1-year interval. Mothers of the adolescents were interviewed only during Wave 1. Interviews covered a variety of topics, including adolescent risk behaviors and family relationships. Measures at Wave 1 were used to predict outcomes at Wave 2, employing logistic and multiple regression techniques. RESULTS: Adolescents' perceptions of maternal attitudes toward the adolescents' engaging in sexual intercourse, and adolescent satisfaction with the maternal relationship were predictive of the occurrence of sexual intercourse between Wave 1 and Wave 2, as well as the occurrence of pregnancy. The more disapproving adolescents perceived their mothers to be toward their engaging in sexual intercourse and the more satisfied adolescents were with their relationship with their mothers, the less likely adolescents were to initiate sexual activity or to become pregnant. Only relationship satisfaction was predictive of the use of birth control, such that more satisfied adolescents were more likely to use birth control at their most recent intercourse. The correlation between adolescent perceptions of maternal abstinence attitudes and actual maternal attitudes was .26. Adolescent perceptions of maternal attitudes tended to be a more consistent predictor of outcomes than actual maternal attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with a growing body of literature that suggests the importance of adolescents' perceptions of maternal attitudes in determining sexual risk behaviors. Adolescents may misperceive the attitudes of parents, suggesting the need for communication between parent and teen.

PIP: This prospective study examined the relationship between adolescents' perceptions of maternal abstinence attitude, adolescent-maternal relationship satisfaction, and the occurrence in the ensuing 12 months of sexual intercourse, the use of birth control during intercourse, and the occurrence of pregnancy. It further examined the accuracy of adolescents in perceiving the attitudes of their mothers as well as factors that predicted underestimations of these attitudes. The study also evaluated the relative predictive power of adolescent perceptions of maternal abstinence attitude and the actual maternal abstinence attitude. Included in the study were approximately 10,000 adolescents in grades 7-11 who completed 2 interviews in their homes at a 1-year interval. The analysis showed that perceived maternal opposition to sex and relationship satisfaction, as well as the occurrence of pregnancy was predictive of sexual intercourse. The more adolescents perceived disapproval from their mothers and the more satisfied they were in their maternal-adolescent relationship, the less likely adolescents were to initiate sexual activity or to become pregnant. In addition, only relationship satisfaction was noted to be predictive of the use of birth control. Overall, the results highlight the importance of adolescents' perceptions of maternal attitudes in determining sexual risk behaviors. Since adolescents may misperceive the attitudes of parents, communication between parent and teen should be enforced.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10734274&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Listening to youth: teen perspectives on pregnancy prevention.

Hacker KA, Amare Y, Strunk N, Horst L.

Adolescent and School Services, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.

PURPOSE: To ascertain views of public high school students on preventing teen pregnancy. The authors hypothesized that students at varying risk for pregnancy (e.g., abstinent, consistent contraceptors, inconsistent contraceptors) would have differing views which would have implications for future pregnancy prevention programming. METHODS: A 75-question anonymous survey designed for this study was administered in six Boston high schools. The sample consisted of 49% females and 51% males in 10th and 11th grades from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. One thousand surveys were received and analyzed using Chi-square tests to assess statistically significant differences in student responses. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the students had had sexual intercourse: 72% of males and 54% of females. Of these, 35% were consistent contraceptors and 65% were inconsistent. Students believed that having more information on pregnancy and birth control (52%), education about relationships (33%), parental communication (32%), improved contraceptive access (31%), and education about parenting realities (30%) would prevent teen pregnancy. Abstinent teens were more likely (58%) to say that information on pregnancy and birth control was important (p<.05), whereas consistently contracepting teens were more likely (40%) to identify greater access to birth control (p <.01). Males were more likely than females to prefer their information on contraception from parents (23% vs. 18%) and health education classes (16% vs. 7.5%), whereas females were more likely than males to prefer the health arena (51% vs. 27%) (p<.001). Teens using contraception were also more likely to be having frequent conversations with parents (49%) (p<.001). When asked why they had not used contraception, inconsistent contraceptors were more likely than others to say that they never thought of it (15%) (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Teens report that having more information from parents, school, and health arenas can prevent pregnancy. Abstinent, consistent contraceptors, and inconsistent contraceptors have different preferences regarding strategies. This information has important implications for educational content and policy discussions.

PIP: This survey determined the views of public high school students on teen pregnancy prevention. The authors hypothesized that students at varying risk for pregnancy would have differing views, which would have implications for future pregnancy prevention programming. A 75-question anonymous survey was designed and administered in 6 Boston high schools. A total of 1000 10th- and 11th-grade students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds completed the questionnaire. The overall analysis showed that 63% of the students had had sexual intercourse: 72% of males and 54% of females. Among these, 35% were consistent contraceptors and 65% were inconsistent. Teens enumerated the factors that will prevent teen pregnancy. These include having more information on pregnancy and birth control (52%), education about relationships (33%), parental communication (32%), improved contraceptive access (31%), and education about parenting realities (30%). Moreover, abstinent, consistent contraceptors, and inconsistent contraceptors had different preferences regarding strategies. Such findings have important implications for educational content and policy discussions.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10734275&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Women's use of dual methods of sexual self-protection.

Poppen PJ, Reisen CA.

Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.

In a sample of college women at two private universities, this study examined dual use of self-protective measures, i.e., simultaneous use of condoms for disease prevention and birth control pills for contraception. Those who were dual users of condoms and birth control pills were in newer relationships, were less committed to their current relationships, and perceived their partners as more likely to have HIV or other STDs, as compared to college women using condoms only, birth control pills only, or no method. Dual use was unrelated to personality or health and risk behavior. Rather, dual use reflected a pattern of sexual self-protection based on risk management associated with concerns about consequences of sexual activity, that is STDs and conception, and not with more distal factors.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10881758&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Use of birth control pills, condoms, and withdrawal among U.S. high school students.

Everett SA, Warren CW, Santelli JS, Kann L, Collins JL, Kolbe LJ.

Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, USA.

PURPOSE: To examine the use of contraception at last sexual intercourse among currently sexually active adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed data from national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) conducted in 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1997. The YRBS is a self-administered, anonymous survey which uses a national probability sample of U.S. students in public and private schools from grades 9 through 12. RESULTS: From 1991 to 1997, condom use significantly increased (from 46% to 57%), birth control pill use decreased (from 21% to 17%), and use of withdrawal significantly decreased (from 18% to 13%). In 1997, although more students were using condoms, 13% reported using withdrawal and 15% reported using no method to prevent pregnancy at last sexual intercourse. In 1997, condom use among females was significantly lower in the 9th grade than in the 12th grade (p <.001), whereas birth control pill use was higher (p <.001) and use of withdrawal remained stable. Among males, condom use and withdrawal use remained stable from 9th to 12th grade, whereas birth control pill use by their partner increased (p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. For young people who will not remain sexually abstinent, families, health care providers, schools, and other influential societal institutions should promote the correct and continued use of condoms as essential protection against sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10899471&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Adolescent perceptions of maternal approval of birth control and sexual risk behavior.

Jaccard J, Dittus PJ.

Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York 12222, USA. jjj20 csc.albany.edu

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between adolescent perceptions of maternal approval of the use of birth control and sexual outcomes across a 12-month period. METHODS: A subsample of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health database was used in the context of a prospective design. Approximately 10,000 students in grades 7 to 11 were interviewed twice, 1 year apart. RESULTS: Adolescent perceptions of maternal approval of birth control were associated with an increased likelihood of sexual intercourse over the next 12 months for virgins at wave 1. The perceptions also were related to an increase in birth control use but showed an ambiguous relation to the probability of pregnancy. High relationship satisfaction between adolescents and mothers was associated with a higher probability of birth control use and a lower probability of both sexual intercourse and pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that perceived parental approval of birth control may increase the probability of sexual activity in some adolescents. "Safer sex" messages must be conveyed by parents with thought and care.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10983201&dopt=Abstract birth control