From research, teenagers have steadily increased their use of contraception and condoms over the past 25 years, a significant number still do not
use contraceptive methods effectively or consistently. Between 8 and
97 percent of sexually active adolescent women who use no method become
pregnant within one (1) year of initiating intercourse. Becoming a parent
as a teen can negatively impact young people's ability to achieve
educational and personal goals; and in developing countries,
complications from pregnancy including
childbirth and unsafe abortion,
are the leading cause of death for young women ages 14-20.
These Teenagers in the Nigeria, South Africa, United States, China etc and around the world need information about
contraception well before they become sexually active. They need to
understand how various methods of birth control work, the benefits and
challenges of using particular methods, and where to get them. They
need support and encouragement from their peers, adults, and the media
to increase their comfort levels with condoms and birth control.
Importantly, they need full access to confidential, safe, and
convenient family planning services. Parents, educators, health care
providers, and pharmacy staff can play a critical role in helping teens
learn about, obtain, and use contraception effectively.
If you are conducting research on adolescents and contraception, check out Advocates’ Contraception Access, Efficacy, and Use Research Guide for the most recent news, scholarly research, and publications from a variety of sources.