title: Reliability of self-reported contraceptive use and sexual behaviors among adolescent girls.
abstract: This study examines two issues relevant to adolescents' self-reported sexual and contraceptive use behaviors: reliability of partner-referent reports versus 3 and 6 month reports, and test-retest reliability of reports completed over a 2 week period. Data are from 196 13 to 18 year old girls recruited into this study while they south reproductive care from health clinics in a metropolitan area. All participants reported having had sexual intercourse during the past 6 months. Twice over a 2 week interval, participants completed the same paper and pencil surveys. The survey presented questions about sexual behavior and contraceptive use using 3 sequential frames of reference: within the past 6 months, within the past 3 months, and by specific sexual partners in the past 6 months. Findings demonstrate that adolescent girls can reliably report sexual behavior and contraceptive use over a 6 month interval. Study findings have implications for future research utilizing adolescents' self-reported sexual and contraceptive use behaviors.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 5-160 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. sievi001@umn.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sieving
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hellerstedt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McNeely
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Resnick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003267:Contraception / Q000523:psychology; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012736:Sex Education / Q000592:standards; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires