Influences of oral contraceptive use among Black and Latino adolescent females: An application of The Theory of Reasoned Action.

摘要

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence Black and Latino adolescent female's use of oral contraceptives. The theoretical framework that guided this study was The Theory of Reasoned Action, which posits that behavioral intentions and actual behavior are the result of two antecedents: attitudes and beliefs of referent group subjective norms.This is a secondary analysis of a larger study whose participants were 219 sexually active Black and Latino adolescent females between the ages of 12 and 19. The participants were recruited from an adolescent medical clinic in a northeast urban hospital. The adolescents completed a questionnaire that measured their past and present sexual behavior, contraceptive behavior, attitudes and intentions to use oral contraceptive pills to reduce their risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Questionnaire data were collected at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months post intervention.The findings from this study will provide researchers and educators with important information to assist in the design of programs and future research projects aimed at increasing hormonal contraceptive use and preventing unintended pregnancies among inner-city Black and Latino adolescent females.