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Sexual behaviour and contraceptive use among socioeconomic groups of young women in the United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Kathleen Ford ,
Melvin Zelnik  and
John F. Kantner
Kathleen Ford
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Melvin Zelnik
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
John F. Kantner
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Summary

Although much research has been devoted to understanding differences in contraceptive behaviour among socieconomic groups of married women, little is known about group differences among young unmarried women. In this paper, data from a national survey of women 15–19 years of age are used to study the relationship between socioeconomic status, sexual activity, and contraceptive use. The socioeconomic status of the young women is related to age at first intercourse, contraceptive use at first intercourse, regularity of use, and use of medical methods. The results indicate that both an earlier initiation of sexual activity and less regular use of contraceptives in all probability lead to a concentration of pregnancies in the lower socioeconomic groups.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , January 1981 , pp. 31 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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