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  • Title: Pressures influence contraceptive use.
    Author: Keller S.
    Journal: Netw Res Triangle Park N C; 1997; 17(3):25-7. PubMed ID: 12292391.
    Abstract:
    Many adolescents are embarrassed or unwilling to take precautions against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In African countries polygamy or sex with older partners can increase for young women the risk of contracting HIV and other STDs. Their feelings of insecurity and lack of self-confidence prevents them from seeking reproductive health services and rejecting unwanted sexual advances. The Girls' Power Initiative in Nigeria offers confidence building meetings to girls 10-18 years old. It also teaches job skills. Through empowerment they realize their capacity to cope with their own prejudices and those in society. In Bangladesh girls are not allowed to leave their homes, ride a bicycle, or go to the marketplace alone. A Baltimore, Maryland, a family planning clinic provided contraceptive counseling, pregnancy testing, and referrals to 2 high schools during school hours for 3 years with the result of significantly reduced pregnancy rates afterwards. Specific skills to be taught to sexually active adolescents include the use of condoms and communication about contraceptive use and STD prevention with a partner. These programs also address the students' specific sexual histories and safe sex behavior. In New Orleans, Louisiana, of 228 pregnant adolescent women 86% said that they knew about contraception at the time they became pregnant, but only 16% reported using a method, which finding indicates the necessity to address psychological needs of youth. Pregnant adolescents often face psychological or social barriers, lack of family support, and inadequate pregnancy counseling. A Family Health International study of 519 adolescents 12-18 years old, who sought prenatal care or abortion-related emergency services in Fortaleza, Brazil, showed that 1 woman in every 5 would have preferred to delay the pregnancy.
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