TAILIEUCHUNG - Background for Community-Level Work on Positive Reproductive Health in Adolescence: Reviewing the Literature on Contributing Factors

Multiple individual characteristics are associated with positive reproductive health behaviors. Demographic characteristics, including gender, race/ethnicity, and age are all important, with males more likely than females to initiate sexual intercourse at an early age and to exhibit greater levels of sexual activity; racial and ethnic minorities more likely to engage in behaviors related to early pregnancy, childbearing and STIs, and older teens more likely be sexually experienced but also more likely to use contraception (Abma & Sonenstein, 2001; Miller, Norton et al., 1997; Raine et al., 1999; Santelli et al., 2000). Pubertal development and age at menarche are. | Background for Community-Level Work on Positive Reproductive Health in Adolescence Reviewing the Literature on Contributing Factors EXECUTIVE SUMMARY By Jennifer Manlove With high rates of unintended adolescent pregnancy childbearing and sexually transmitted infections STIs in the United States it is important to understand the range of factors that are associated with positive reproductive health behaviors. By far the most straightforward way to maintain positive reproductive health behaviors or to avoid early pregnancy childbearing or STIs is to abstain from sexual intercourse. However as adolescents age their likelihood of becoming sexually experienced increases. Thus it is also important to understand factors associated with the frequency of sexual activity the number of sexual partners and contraceptive use for STI or pregnancy prevention. This chapter assesses factors associated with multiple aspects of positive reproductive health including delaying sexual initiation reducing the frequency of sexual activity and the number of sexual partners using condoms for disease prevention or contraception for pregnancy prevention delaying pregnancy and childbearing and avoiding an STI. This chapter proceeds from an ecological framework which recognizes that multiple aspects of an adolescent s life may affect their reproductive health experiences including a teen s family environment their individual attitudes and behaviors and peer attitudes and behaviors. In addition the characteristics of a teen s community including school context neighborhood environment and broader policies may affect reproductive health behaviors. Finally programs targeted to improving adolescent development in general and to reducing risky sexual behaviors in particular show a range of activities that may help reduce unintended pregnancy childbearing and the incidence of STIs. The majority of studies addressed in this chapter reflect research findings that provide best bets for preventing sexual

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