Purpose: Adolescent pregnancy rates continue to be highest among African Americans. The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence and correlates of wanting to become pregnant among African American adolescent females. Methods: Demographic and psychosocial data were collected on sexually active African American adolescent females between the ages of 14 and 18 years via a self-administered survey and personal interview. Of 522 adolescents surveyed, 60 (11.5%) were pregnant and were thus excluded from this analysis. Of the remaining 462 adolescents, 109 (23.6%) expressed a desire to be pregnant at the time of assessment. Results: Logistic regression analysis indicates that adolescents who live with someone other than their mother are more likely to want to be pregnant than those who live with both parents (OR=2.6). Adolescents whose boyfriends want them to be pregnant are also more likely to want to be pregnant (OR=1.9). Those who perceive more barriers to using condoms (OR=1.0) and those who didn't use contraception the last time they had intercourse (OR=0.5) are significantly more likely to want to be pregnant, while those with higher self-esteem (OR=0.9) are less likely to want to be pregnant. Conclusion: Consistent with the fundamental tenet of social cognitive theory, these findings suggest that individuals are significantly influenced by their physical and social environments. Young women's desire to be pregnant is associated with parental cohabitation, recent contraceptive use, partners' desire to conceive, perception of barriers to using condoms, and level of self-esteem.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, audience members will be able to: 1) identify correlates of wanting to be pregnant among African American adolescent females; 2) describe knowledge and attitudinal barriers to using condoms experienced by female adolescents; 3) understand how social cognitive theory can explain the environmental influences that contribute to a desire to become pregnant in this sample; and 4) apply study findings to identify female adolescents at risk for becoming pregnant
Keywords: Adolescents, Pregnancy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.