Individual, Interpersonal, and Relationship Factors Predicting Hormonal and Condom Use Consistency Among Adolescent Girls
published online 07 August 2009.
Abstract
Introduction
Few existing studies have considered influences of adolescents' sexual partners on contraceptive consistency. This study examines the influence of personal characteristics, partner characteristics, and relationship factors on consistency of contraceptive use among an ethnically diverse sample of adolescent girls at high risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Method
Data are from 110 sexually active 13- to 17-year-old girls participating in a clinic-based intervention study aimed at reducing sexual risk behaviors. Personal characteristics were assessed at baseline (T1), and partner and relationship characteristics were assessed at 12 months (T2).
Results
Multivariate analyses revealed that T2 hormonal contraceptive consistency was predicted by T1 hormonal consistency, girls' desire to use birth control, having the same sexual partner at T1 and T2, perceived partner support for birth control, and communication with partner about sexual risk. T2 condom use consistency was negatively predicted by emergency contraceptive use history and perceived partner support for birth control.
Discussion
Findings underscore the importance of nurses addressing both personal and relationship factors in their efforts to promote consistent contraceptive use among sexually active adolescent girls.
Correspondence: DenYelle Baete Kenyon, PhD, Health Disparities Research Center, Sanford Research/USD, 900 W Delaware St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Design, data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data were supported in part by The Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center (Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Minnesota) Cooperative Agreement Number 1-U48-DP-000063 (principal investigator: Michael Resnick), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preparation of the manuscript was supported by the Adolescent Health Protection Research Training Program (School of Nursing, University of Minnesota) grant number T01 DP000112 (principal investigator: Linda H. Bearinger) from the CDC. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.
ABSTRACT