Communication about Sexual Behavior among Adolescent Women, Their Family, and Peers

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates in the United States are among the highest among developed nations. A survey of female adolescent family planning patients (N = 249) indicated that teens 13 to 16 years of age were more likely than teens 17 to 1 9 years of age to discuss sexual behavior with adult, nonparental relatives (43% vs. 26%, p = .007). Teens with a prior pregnancy were more likely than never-pregnant teens to report parental discussion of contraception choices (83% vs. 53%, p = .004) and of sites for contraceptive care (61% vs. 37%, p = .0023). Adolescents rely on a complex network of family and peers for communication about sexuality. Social work clinical and community skills facilitate family-centered reproductive health training and counseling for improved reproductive health of U.S. adolescents.