Oral contraceptive use among African American adolescents: Individual and community influences

Abstract

Side effects of oral contraceptives are a noteworthy problem, particularly among low-income young women who reside in inner-city communities. The problem may be compounded by inadequate family planning services, particularly when such services are provided by general medical practices with high volumes of clients. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of pill-related side effects, with particular attention to the role of clinic characteristics. Participants were 177 pregnant and parenting African American adolescents and young women (average age = 18.34). The experience of a pill-related side effect was the most frequently cited barrier to birth control use, and it was significantly related to contraceptive behavior. Finally, although participants attending comprehensive clinics experienced more barriers to medical service use than those attending neighborhood clinics, they reported fewer problems with pill-related side effects and better psychological functioning. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.

Contraceptive Attitudes among Inner-City African American Female Adolescents: Barriers to Effective Hormonal Contraceptive Use

“…5,6 In addition, several studies have found that African American youth often possess a great deal of misinformation about potential side effects of HC, including misconceptions about its long-term effects on reproductive health, fertility, and physiology. 7,8 Nonuse and inconsistent use of HC and concerns about potential HC side effects among this group of adolescents may be uniquely exacerbated by a lack of sources for obtaining accurate information about HC and what other researchers have referred to as ''urban legends'' about negative ''side effects'' and the ineffectiveness of certain HC methods that get passed on to African American adolescents by family members and friends. 7,9e11 Ambivalence toward pregnancy has also been associated with nonuse of contraception and low motivation to use contraception consistently among African American female adolescents.…”