Adolescent contraceptive use: Cues to behavior

Abstract

This study investigated the cues to behavior that influence adolescent contraceptive use. Forty adolescent females between the ages of 14 and 18 who were currently using contraceptives participated in this descriptive study. The Contraceptive Cue Questionnaire was completed by the participants, who attended a county family planning clinic. Using descriptive statistics, the cues of having a steady boyfriend, having accurate knowledge of reproduction and contraception, and having been pregnant previously were found to be important in cuing adolescent females to use contraceptives. Having future plans and goals was not found to be an important factor in cuing adolescent females to use contraceptives. The importance of the cue of the level of cognitive development could not be determined due to the limited age range of the subjects. The information gained can be used to work with those sexually active teens who are at risk of becoming pregnant; that is, those who are not involved in a steady relationship or do not feel a great deal of love for their boyfriends, have little or inaccurate knowledge of reproduction and contraception, and those who have not yet been pregnant.