Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
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Perspect Sex Reprod Health · Mar 2011
Coercive forms of sexual risk and associated violence perpetrated by male partners of female adolescents.
Partner violence is associated with STDs among female adolescents, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Sexually coercive and deceptive behaviors of male partners that increase female STD risk may be factors in this relationship. ⋯ The high prevalence of intimate partner violence against young women attending adolescent clinics strongly indicates the need to target this population for abuse-related interventions. This need is underlined by the observed association between partner violence and sexual risk involving coercion or deception by male partners. Clinic-based STD and pregnancy prevention efforts should include assessment of sexual risk factors that are beyond the control of young women, particularly for those experiencing abuse.
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Perspect Sex Reprod Health · Mar 2010
Repeat unintended, unwanted and seriously mistimed childbearing in the United States.
The high level of unintended fertility in the United States is a serious public health issue. Whether unintended fertility occurs across the population or is concentrated among a subset of women who experience multiple unintended births is unclear. ⋯ Repeat unintended fertility is common, especially among black women, who may differ from other groups in their contraceptive and fertility decisions as well as in their access to and ability to afford family planning services.
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Perspect Sex Reprod Health · Jun 2009
Intimate partner violence among economically disadvantaged young adult women: associations with adolescent risk-taking and pregnancy experiences.
Intimate partner violence negatively impacts the health of substantial proportions of young women in economically disadvantaged communities, where sexual initiation, aggressive behaviors, unintended pregnancies and childbearing are common among adolescents. It is therefore important to assess how adolescent risk behaviors and pregnancy experiences are linked to such violence during young adulthood. ⋯ It is important to consider women's pregnancy histories in programs aimed at preventing the adverse outcomes of relationship violence and in screening for partner violence in sexual and reproductive health services. Early intervention may help women develop the skills needed for resolving conflicts with peers and partners.
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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.