Sexually abstinent African American adolescent females' descriptions of abstinence.
OBJECTIVE
To describe sexual abstinence from the perspective of abstinent African American female adolescents.


METHODS
Descriptive qualitative.


METHODS
Data were collected from 14 sexually abstinent, African American adolescent girls during two semi-structured interviews. Data were collected using the life history method and were analyzed in the style of narrative analysis.


RESULTS
This analysis indicated four themes in descriptions of abstinence: limited information, categorization of sexual behaviors, activities that lead to intercourse, and abstinence as a self-determined choice. For most participants, "having sex" referred to heterosexual vaginal intercourse and being abstinent meant that one chose to refrain from intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
The participants' limited definition of abstinence might lead them to unknowingly put themselves at risk by engaging in other forms of genital sexual activities. They may think that they are protected because they believe that they are practicing abstinence.
Haglund
Kristin
K
Marquette University, College of Nursing, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA. kristin.haglund@marquette.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033262:Narration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D012746:Sexual Abstinence / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*