Among Native American Teenagers, Sex Without Contraceptives is Common

Abstract

In the Indian Adolescent Health Survey developed at the University of Minnesota in conjunction with the Indian Health Service 70% of a final sample of 13454 rural 7-12 grade students living on or near reservations drawn from an estimated population of 165659 completed 1 hour self-administered anonymous questionnaires designed at a 5th grade reading level that covered among other topics sexual behavior. The average age at 1st intercourse was 13.6 years for males and 14.2 years for females and 35% of all males and 27% of all female had had intercourse with the percent increasing with grade level. Those with signs of emotional stress or sexual or physical abuse were more likely to be sexually active. Reasons for waiting were religion waiting until they were older fear of pregnancy wanting to wait until marriage not being ready emotionally fearing disease and because it violated their parents values. 50% of females and 40% of males sexually active used a contraceptive method older females were more likely to use contraceptives than younger females and males showed no grade difference. Condoms were the most common method for all grades the pill was 2nd and withdrawal was used by 10% of males and females and more likely in older teenagers. Reasons for never using contraceptives included not thinking about it and that intercourse was unexpected; fewer than 10% of the sexually active teenagers said they were too embarrassed to get contraceptives their partners did not want it they worried about side effects or they wanted a pregnancy. The teenagers worried about AIDS other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies and said they would seek help for pregnancy from parents friends health providers or no one.