Family Planning and the Young Minority Male: A Pilot Project

Abstract

In Los Angeles the first coordinated program the Young Inner-City Males Project sought to reach Black Spanish speaking Asian and American Indian males in relation to family life education family planning and parental responsibilities. The project developed an approach to the promotion of sexual responsibility and the reduction of repetition of unwanted out-of-wedlock pregnancy through goal-directed support and assistance to unwed fathers and potential unwed fathers aged 14-24. The Young Males Pilot Project was implemented in 1974 by Naomi Gray Associates (NGA) funded by an HEW contract. Each ethnic community has a peer outreach counselor who works within the community and with the participating delegated agency. Within 12 months approximately 1000 sexually active young men were reached through face-to-face contact with 40-50% participating in the ongoing program. 118 were surveyed as to knowledge attitude and practice of birth control venereal disease and other sexually related topics. Of those who confined their sexual partners to 1 woman 76% were 12-14 year olds; 26% were aged 15-17 and 30% were 18-20. Education about venereal disease was most relevant to the older teenager who had more than 1 partner. 79% of those aged 15-17 and 40% of those aged 18-20 had little or no knowledge of birth control.