SD 4.3

CONTRACEPTIVE USE BY TEENS

Sexual intercourse without contraception puts a teen at risk of unintended pregnancy and of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. The vast majority of teens do not want to become pregnant. Data from a national survey show that among teens who had first intercourse at age 17 or younger, fewer than one in one hundred wanted a pregnancy to occur at that time. This was true for both males and females, and for both blacks and whites.⁴³

Condoms and birth control pills are the most common forms of contraception used by sexually active teenagers.⁴⁴ In 1995, over half (54 percent) of sexually experienced students in grades 9-12 reported use of a condom during their last sexual intercourse, while only 17 percent reported use of the birth control pill (see Tables SD 4.3.A and SD 4.3.B).

Condom use among sexually experienced students increased between 1990 to 1995 from 45 percent to 54 percent (see Table SD 4.3.A). Use of birth control pills has remained relatively steady from 1993 to 1995, with some subgroup differences that are discussed below (see Table SD 4.3.B).

Differences by Gender. Female students are less likely than male students to report having used a condom during their last intercourse (49 percent of females vs. 61 percent of males in 1995).

Differences by Grade. Use of condoms decreases as grade in school increases, while use of the pill increases with grade. In 1995, 63 percent of students in the 9th grade reported use of a condom compared with 50 percent of 12th grade students. In contrast, only 11 percent of 9th graders reported use of the pill, while a quarter of 12th graders reported its use (see Figure SD 4.3).

Differences by Race.⁴⁵ Black students report the highest use of condoms, while white students report the highest use of the pill. In 1995, white students were more likely to have used the pill during their last sexual intercourse (21 percent) than were either black students (10 percent) or Hispanic students (11 percent).

It is important to note that the data presented here include only those teens who are in school. Teens out of school are likely to have lower rates of contraceptive use as their access to education regarding the risks associated with unprotected sex, as well as guidance on how to obtain protection, is more limited.
 

Figure SD 4.3   Percentage of Sexually Experienced High School Students Who Reported Using a Contraceptive During Their Last Sexual Intercourse, by Method and Grade: 1995

Source: “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance- United States, 1993.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vol. 44, No. SS-1, 1995. “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 1995.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vol. 45, No. SS-4, 1996: and unpublished tabulations from L. Kann, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
 
 

Table SD 4.3.A  Contraceptive Use: Percentage of Sexually Experienced High School Students Who Reported Using A Condom During Last Sexual Intercourse:  1990, 1993, and 1995
			1990				1993				1995
			—————————				—————————				—————————
			Total	Male	Female		Total	Male	Female		Total	Male	Female
			——	——	———		——	——	———		——	——	———
Total			45	49	40		53	59	46		54	61	49
Grade
	9th		51	54		46	62	63		59	63	66		59
	10th		48	53		43	55	63		46	60	68		52
	11th		44	51		37	55	65		46	52	57		49
	12th		42	45		38	47	52		41	50	57		43
Race/Ethnicity
	White, non-Hispanic		46	50		42	52	59		46	53	58		48
	Black, non-Hispanic		47	55		37	57	64		48	66	72		61
	Hispanic		38	47		28	46	55		37	44	56		33
Source: "1990-1991 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System." Chronic Disease and Health Promotion Reprints from the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 1993." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vol. 44, No. SS-1, 1995. "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance- United States, 1995." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vol. 45, No. SS-4, 1996: and unpublished tabulations from L. Kann.

 
 

Table SD 4.3.B   Contraceptive Use: Percentage of Sexually Experienced High School Students Who Reported Birth Pill Control Use During Last Sexual Intercourse: 1993 and 1995
				1993			1995
				————————————			————————————
				Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
				———	———	———	———	———	———
Total				18	15	22	17	14	20
Grade
	9th			9	8	11	11	10	13
	10th			14	10	17	12	9	16
	11th			17	12	22	15	13	17
	12th			26	23	29	25	21	29
Race/Ethnicity
	White, non-Hispanic			20	17	24	21	17	25
	Black, non-Hispanic			15	11	21	10	8	12
	Hispanic			12	10	15	11	14	9
Sources: "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance- United States, 1993." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vol. 44, No. SS-1, 1995. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 1995." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vol. 45, No. SS-4, 1996: and unpublished tabulations from L. Kann, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

⁴⁴ Peterson, L.S. "Contraceptive Use in the United States: 1982-90." Advance Data, No. 260, February 14, 1995. Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth.

⁴⁵ Estimates for whites and blacks exclude Hispanics of those races.
 
 

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