Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
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Perspect Sex Reprod Health · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyNeighborhood context and sexual behaviors among adolescents: findings from the national longitudinal study of adolescent health.
Adolescent sexual behaviors are a significant public health concern because of the risks of STDs and the negative social consequences of teenage pregnancies. Associations between neighborhood characteristics and adolescents' initiation of sex and contraceptive use are poorly understood. ⋯ Neighborhood context appears to be modestly associated with the sexual initiation of adolescents. However, little support was found for neighborhood influence on contraceptive use, suggesting that other factors may play a more important role in shaping adolescents' contraceptive behaviors.