Contraceptive decision-making in urban, black female adolescents: its relationship to cognitive development.
Contraceptive education and accessible contraceptive methods have not reduced significantly the incidence of adolescent pregnancy. The cognitive development of adolescents makes contraceptive decision-making difficult. This study examined how cognitive development affected contraceptive decision-making among 86 urban black female adolescents attending three family planning clinics. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the stage of cognitive development was the best predictor of contraceptive decision-making. Age and relevant sexual knowledge added to the explanation of decision-making variance. Potential nursing implications include: (1) screening of stage cognitive development prior to rendering care, (2) continuation of contraceptive education and (3) presentation of contraceptive education at appropriate cognitive levels.
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D003071:Cognition; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D009732:Nursing Care; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012736:Sex Education; D014481:United States