237646 Relationship between pregnancy intent and future sexual risk behavior among African-American adolescent females

Monday, October 31, 2011

Colleen Crittenden Murray, DrPH, MPH , Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Jessica Sales, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory Univeristy, Atlanta, GA
Eve Rose, MSPH , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Although most pregnancies among U.S. teenagers are unintended, a substantial number are planned. Research on factors associated with teen pregnancy has received great attention within the literature, however, less clear are the mechanisms through which intending to become pregnant impacts other risk behaviors and how this may change over time. 298 non-pregnant African-American females (15-22 years) completed an ACASI and were reassessed 6 months later as part of an STD prevention program. Sexual behaviors and intention to become pregnant were evaluated. Data analyses were conducted to prospectively explore differences in condom use between those who were not intending to become pregnant verses those who were at initial assessment. The majority (~90%) were not intentionally trying to become pregnant at initial assessment. Not intending to get pregnant at initial assessment was significantly associated with non-intention 6 months later. At follow-up, non-intenders reported significantly higher rates of condom use in the past 6 months than those intentionally trying to become pregnant (57% versus 37%, respectively). Despite not intending to get pregnant, and engaging in higher rates of condom use, 8.8% of the non-intenders tested positive for pregnancy 6 months later. While condom use was higher among non-intenders, it still was not 100%. To distinguish why some teens that do not intend to get pregnant still do, motivations and advantages for early childbearing must be better understood. Findings suggest that teens who intend to become pregnant may not benefit from the same type of risk-reduction interventions as those not contemplating pregnancy.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how initial pregnancy intent changes over time. 2. Discuss the association between pregnancy intent and condom use practices over a 6 month period. 3. Compare pregnancy intentions at initial assessment to biologically confirmed pregnancy diagnoses 6 months later.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Condom Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I am a behavioral researcher working on interventions aimed at reducing sexual risk behaivors among African-American adolescent females.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.