Correlates of adolescent females' worry about undesired pregnancy. the importance of partner desire for pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine correlates of worry about pregnancy among a high-risk sample of low-income African-American adolescent females. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that perceived male partner desire for pregnancy and level of sexual communication would be independently associated with adolescent females' worry about becoming pregnant.


METHODS
A survey of sexually active African-American adolescent females, 14-18 years of age.


METHODS
Recruitment was conducted in low-income neighborhoods of Birmingham, Alabama, characterized by high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, violence, and teen pregnancy.


METHODS
Adolescents (N = 522) completed a survey and a face-to-face interview, and provided a urine specimen for pregnancy testing.


METHODS
Nonpregnant adolescents reporting steady relationships with a male sex partner (over the past 6 months) and indicating no immediate desire to become pregnant were included in the analysis (n = 196). Two questionnaire items assessed level of worry about becoming pregnant.


RESULTS
Compared to adolescent females reporting their partner did not desire pregnancy, those perceiving their partner desired pregnancy were nearly three times more likely to experience high worry about becoming pregnant (AOR = 2.85; P =.009). Engaging in sex unprotected by a condom was an equally important correlate of high worry (AOR = 2.84; P =.013). Level of communication between partners about pregnancy prevention was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent females may experience high worry about becoming pregnant due to desires of their male partner as well as their recent sexual risk behavior.
Crosby
R A
RA
Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rcrosby@sph.emory.edu
DiClemente
R J
RJ
Wingood
G M
GM
Sionean
C
C
Cobb
B K
BK
Harrington
K
K
Davies
S
S
Hook
E W
EW
Oh
M K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D019529:Sexuality; D013315:Stress, Psychological