title: Contraceptive use patterns within females' first sexual relationships: the role of relationships, partners, and methods.
abstract: This study used the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to assess whether characteristics of females' sexual partners, relationships, and choice of contraceptive methods were associated with contraceptive use patterns within their first sexual relationship. White, black, and Hispanic females under age 25 (N=915) provided retrospective information on sexual activity and contraceptive use for first sexual relationships that occurred between 1991 and 1995. Females with older sexual partners and with same race/ethnicity partners (among Hispanics) had reduced odds of ever using contraception and/or uninterrupted use. Longer sexual relationships were associated with higher odds of ever using contraception but lower odds of uninterrupted use. Females who were older at first sex, who used hormonal methods (among whites), or who switched to more effective methods during their first sexual relationships had higher odds of ever using contraception and/or uninterrupted use. In contrast, switching to less effective methods during a first sexual relationship was associated with reduced odds of uninterrupted use.
authors.affiliation: Child Trends, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20008, USA. jmanlove@childtrends.org
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manlove
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terry-Humen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003075:Coitus; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003273:Contraceptive Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents