Study Objectives: To examine demographic characteristics and contraceptive habits of young men.Methods: A descriptive study was conducted utilizing data analyzed from three waves of the National Survey of the Adolescent Male (NSAM) administered in 1988, 1991, and 1995. The first wave consisted of 1,880, never-married, noninstitutionalized 15-19 year old men living in the United States. The second wave consisted of 1,676 re-interviewed respondents who were 17-22 years old. The third wave consisted of 1,377 re-interviewed respondents who were 22-27 years old. Descriptive statistics were used to compare personal and demographic characteristics across each year group. Odds ratios, and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to determine demographic risk factors; p-values, and chi-square tests were included in the demographic analysis.Results:The majority of the young men in waves 2 and 3 believed the male equally responsible if their partner became pregnant (92% vs. 96%). These young men also believed the male should ask their female partner about contraception before being intimate (71%, waves 2 and 3). Only 3% (wave 2), to 4% (wave 3), believed they would feel more like a man if his partner became pregnant. Almost 50% of males, ages 17-22 (wave 1), and 21-27 (wave 2), believed there was "a little chance" to a "50-50 chance" that they would feel embarrassed to put on a condom. The majority of young men in wave 2 (61%), and approximately half (48%) of young men in wave 3 felt there was "a little chance" to a "50-50 chance" that condom use reduced their sexual pleasure. Only 12% of waves 2 and 3 respondents, felt there was "no chance" a female would become pregnant, if a condom was used during intercourse. Indicating a lack of knowledge regarding the overall benefits of condom use. In addition, less than 50% of waves 2 and 3 felt they had a "pretty good chance" to avoid a STD/AIDS if a condom was used. Conclusions: Results indicated that although the cohort was more cognizant of reproductive responsibility as they matured, steps are still needed to address behavioral changes.

Despite a significant drop in the number of pregnant adolescents and reforms to fight gender discrimination under Title IX, teen pregnancy and risk factors including poverty, stigma, and substance abuse, which may lead to different negative outcomes, such as depression, social isolation, and lowered self-esteem remain a persistent problem in the United States. Due to these factors, pregnant and parenting teens have been noted to drop out of high school prematurely. Using incrementalism as a theoretical framework, the purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore and describe Title IX compliance and local policies and practices of educators as well as their role in the lives of pregnant and parenting teens pursuing secondary education. As a public policy, the purpose of Title IX is to protect students regardless of gender. Data were collected through in-depth interviews of 4 policy makers and 16 educators from public school districts across a northeastern state. To analyze the data, interviews were transcribed, inductively coded, and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Regardless of the existence of Title IX, the findings show it is incrementally enforced, coming into play slowly or even ignored. The themes included stigma, discriminatory segregation, funding gaps, support of programs largely outside of school, accountability for programs, denial of educators' voices on policy and practices, and recommendations of real life skills for pregnant and parenting students. This study provides relevant information to use as a basis for Title IX compliance and local educational policy modifications. This study suggests compliance and modifications may contribute to positive academic progress for pregnant and parenting adolescents.

Despite decreasing rates of teen pregnancy within the U.S., rates remain high for African American girls (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Comprehensive youth development programs aim to address teen pregnancy. This study examined the role of natural mentors in relation to participation in Cool Girls, Inc. and girls’ sexual efficacy among middle school girls. Furthermore, the quality of natural mentor relationship was assessed. Results provide no support that participation in the program and the presence of a natural mentor significantly affects sexual efficacy. Furthermore, the quality of natural mentor relationship did not significantly increase girls’ sexual efficacy. However, while not explicitly hypothesized, older girls reported significantly higher sexual efficacy. Limitations and strengths of the study are discussed. Directions for future research and intervention are suggested.

Despite decreasing rates of teen pregnancy within the U.S., rates remain high for African American girls (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Comprehensive youth development programs aim to address teen pregnancy. This study examined the role of natural mentors in relation to participation in Cool Girls, Inc. and girls’ sexual efficacy among middle school girls. Furthermore, the quality of natural mentor relationship was assessed. Results provide no support that participation in the program and the presence of a natural mentor significantly affects sexual efficacy. Furthermore, the quality of natural mentor relationship did not significantly increase girls’ sexual efficacy. However, while not explicitly hypothesized, older girls reported significantly higher sexual efficacy. Limitations and strengths of the study are discussed. Directions for future research and intervention are suggested.

The United States has the highest teen birth rate of any developed country in the world. In the period 2005-2010, the fertility rate for the United States was 41 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19, compared to 26 births in the United Kingdom, and 4 in Switzerland and The Netherlands. However, the teen birth rates in the United States vary considerably by race and ethnic group. National vital statistics data for 2009 report that the rate for Blacks is more than twice that of non-Hispanic Whites, and the rate for Latinas is almost three times as high. The difference within Latino groups is just as dramatic. The adolescent fertility rate per 1,000 for Cubans is 23.5, while for Puerto Ricans it is 61.67, and for Mexicans the rate is 78.7. Teen pregnancy and childbearing in the Mexican American population are issues of great concern because this ethnic group is the fastest growing population in the United States. The literature on teen childbearing among Latinos, and specifically among Mexican origin teens, tends to attribute the high rates to cultural differences. In this dissertation, I argue that the high rates of teen pregnancy cannot properly be attributed to "cultural" characteristics. Instead, I develop falsifiable hypotheses that are derived from theoretical frameworks which recognize the relationship between racial inequalities and teen fertility. I first test the social characteristics hypothesis to determine the effect that income and parents? education have on teen fertility. Second, I test if other characteristics such as religiosity, type of religion and views on teen pregnancy have an impact on predicting the odds of having a teen birth. Third, drawing on demographic literature, I ascertain whether educational experiences and aspirations to attend college are critical factors in predicting a teen birth. Last, I test if having a teen birth has the same impact for Mexican origin teens compared to Whites in terms of being able to obtain a college degree.

Among girls in foster care, 48% become pregnant at least once by age 19 (Dworkey & Courtney, 2010). Teen moms are less likely to graduate from high school and their children also are more likely to be placed in foster care due to abuse or neglect (Hoffman, 2006). Furthermore, 50% of 21-year-old men aging out of foster care report they have gotten someone pregnant, compared to 19% of their peers not involved in foster care (Courtney et al., 2007). Youth in or at-risk for foster care (YFC) report limited knowledge about, access to, and use of condoms; ambivalent attitudes toward teen parenting; and participation in other risky behaviors. For the current study, we adapted and supplemented an evidence-based sexual health program called SiHLE, using a systematic adaptation framework (ADAPT-ITT, Wingood & DiClemete, 2008), to address these unique and targeted needs of YFC. Thirty-six youth participated in four sessions of SiHLE-YFC during their stay at a temporary shelter. Four 90-minute sessions focused on increasing sexual health knowledge, improving attitudes toward and self-efficacy of condom use, and developing core skills such as problem-solving and communication. As hypothesized, youth showed high satisfaction with the intervention and significant improvement in sexual health knowledge from pre to post. At one month follow-up, youth continued to show significant improvement in sexual health knowledge, along with a significant reduction in risky sexual behaviors. Though not significant, there were moderate effect sizes for changes in attitudes toward teen pregnancy and condoms. There were no changes in attitudes towards teen parenting. Taken together, findings suggest that sexual health education directly targeting the unique needs of YFC may improve sexual health knowledge and behavior, and are discussed in the context of challenges associated with intervention and research with this population.

A literature review revealed 15 variables as commonly studied as associated with adolescent pregnancy. The research showed conflicting results in many of these areas. Twenty-one pregnant and 20 non-pregnant adolescents were tested using the Arlin Test of Formal Reasoning (ATFR) and the Reiss's Premarital Sexual Permissiveness Scale. Pregnant participants were expected to score lower than non-pregnant participants on the ATFR; and, the low permissives (based on responses to the Reiss's Premarital Sexual Permissiveness Scale) were expected to score higher than high permissives on the ATFR. However, the results did not support the hypotheses. Several areas were examined for exploratory purposes. There was a significant difference between high permissives and low permissives for parent/peer orientation for sexual behavior attitudes. Additional exploratory demographic information was collected using a General Information Questionnaire.

Introduction. Research on teen childbearing has consistently noted that unfavorable socioeconomic conditions experienced at the community and family levels underpin disparities in teen birth rates. However, rather than examining socioeconomic factors alone, community-level differences in teen births could be measured by examining in tandem, the intersection between sociodemographic deprivation and health professional shortage areas (HPSA). Objectives. To examine the differences in teen birth rates by sociodemographic deprivation and HPSA in rural and urban counties of the United States. Methods. Results. Of the 3,136 counties, 78.7% of rural counties were in the highest category of socio-demographic deprivation compared to about 21.1% of urban counties. 76.0% of rural counties were categorized as having shortages of primary care, dental, and mental health providers, compared to 24.0% of urban counties. Rural counties had an additional 7.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years (p <0.0001) when compared to urban counties. The highest level of sociodemographic deprivation had a strong positive association with teen birth rates (β = 17.46; SE = 0.53; p < 0.0001). Rural counties with the whole designation of a health professional shortage increased county-level teen births by 7.18 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years (p <0.0001), compared to urban counties with no designation. Rural counties with higher levels of sociodemographic deprivation and a designation of health professional shortages in at least one area had significantly higher teen births than their urban counterparts (p <0.0001). Conclusions. Rural communities across different levels of deprivation and HPSA designated categories continue to have disproportionately greater teen birth rates. While these findings reveal the unique characteristics of sociodemographic and HPSA as a useful social determinant of teen birth, rural communities showed inherent vulnerabilities that contribute to poorer teen birth outcomes. Future research should examine the extent to which access to contraceptive services differs among rural and urban communities and the role of rural safety net providers in the provision of these services.

Hispanic youth living in the U.S. share a disproportionate burden of risk for HIV, other STIs, and teen pregnancies. They also tend to report lower rates of condom use and higher rates of inconsistent condom use than other racial/ethnic groups. Furthermore, immigrant Hispanic adolescents experience a unique burden of sexual risk compared to their non-immigrant counterparts. These negative sexual health outcomes can severely derail the overall health, social mobility, and life opportunities of these adolescents. Social researchers have tried to explain these sexual risk disparities using the concept of immigrant acculturation, which is broadly defined as the process of adopting the cultural values and beliefs of a host society. Immigrant acculturation has been shown to play a key role in shaping youth attitudes and behaviors, including sexual risk behaviors (see Lee & Hahm, 2010). Yet, studies have largely overlooked the contextual components of acculturation that have been proposed in theoretical literature, specifically characteristics of the immigrant's receiving community. Furthermore, studies have not adequately explored the influence of acculturation on two crucial measures of sexual risk: teen pregnancy norms and condom use. Therefore, the current dissertation consists of two unique studies that examine the influence of acculturation, at both the individual and neighborhood level, on Hispanic adolescent teen pregnancy norms and condom use over time. The aim is to fill these important gaps in the literature and expand on earlier explanations of the relationship between cultural, place, and long-term sexual health. Both studies use nationally-representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Overall, findings suggest an immigrant advantage for both teen pregnancy norms and condom use, although this advantage functions differently for males and females. Furthermore, the studies demonstrate the importance of including contextual measures of acculturation into studies related to Hispanic adolescent sexual health.

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo determinar la eficiencia comunicativa en la presentación de la información sobre educación sexual y planificación familiar en los materiales didácticos que se utilizan para poder contribuir a reducir el riesgo de embarazo adolescente en la ciudad de Iquitos. Es por ello que se planteó como hipótesis que los materiales didácticos sobre educación sexual no generan un impacto en los adolescentes, lo cual es perjudicial debido a que no pueden comprender las causas y efectos del embarazo. El tipo de investigación es descriptiva, la cual tiene como finalidad examinar los elementos visuales y materiales que utilizan los centros de salud de la ciudad de Loreto. Además, se busca analizar si son adecuados y si generan un impacto en la población adolescente. Asimismo, el diseño de la investigación es mixta, contando con un trabajo de campo el cual tuvo como finalidad obtener información directa de los mismos profesionales y especialistas en los temas de la investigación. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que no existe materiales didácticos propios de la región. Además, que la información que brindan a las adolescentes es desactualizada, explícita y descargada de internet. También, se evidencia una falta de inversión económica por parte del Estado en el sector salud de la ciudad. Finalmente, se pudo determinar que los materiales didácticos sobre educación sexual que se emplean en los centros de salud no son herramientas adecuadas ni de gran impacto para las adolescentes. / This research aims to determine the communicative efficiency in the presentation of information on sexual education and family planning in the teaching materials that are used to help reduce the risk of teenage pregnancy in the city of Iquitos. That is why it was hypothesized that teaching materials on sexual education do not generate an impact on adolescents, which is harmful because they cannot understand the causes and effects of pregnancy. The type of research is descriptive, which aims to examine the visual and material elements used by health centers in the city of Loreto. In addition, it seeks to analyze if they are adequate and if they generate an impact on the adolescent population. Also, the design of the research is mixed, with a field work which was aimed at obtaining direct information from the same professionals and specialists in the research topics. The results obtained show that there are no teaching materials typical of the region. In addition, that the information they provide to adolescents is outdated, explicit and downloaded from the internet. Also, there is a lack of economic investment by the State in the health sector of the city. Finally, it was determined that the teaching materials on sexual education used in health centers are not adequate tools or of great impact for adolescent girls. / Trabajo de investigación