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Increased contraception use noted among teens
Martinez G. Vital Health Stat. 2011;23(31).
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The percentage of teen males in the United States who reported use of a condom the first time they had sex and the percentage of teen females using hormone contraception methods other than the pill significantly increased since 2002, CDC officials reported in Vital and Health Statistics.
Officials pooled data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) on males and females aged 15 to 19 years between July 2006 and June 2010. The data were then compared with 2002 survey results. The cohort included 2,284 females and 2,378 males that were interviewed regarding their sexual activity, contraceptive use and childbearing.
Based on a 77% response rate, eight out of 10 males reported use of a condom the first time they had sex — a 9% increase from 2002 — and 16% of males reported using a condom in combination with their partner’s hormonal contraceptive.
A significant increase was observed in the percentage of females who reported use of hormonal contraceptive methods other than the birth control pill at first sexual encounter. Compared with 2% in 2002, 6% of females used a hormonal contraceptive method other than the pill at first sexual encounter.
No significant changes were observed in the following areas since 2002:
- The condom remained the most popular method of teenager contraception.
- 78% of females and 85% of males used a method of contraception at first sexual encounter.
- Approximately 43% of never-married females, and about 42% of never-married males had had sexual intercourse at least once.
- Non-Hispanic black males were the highest percentage of sexually experienced teens.
- Hispanic males had the highest percentage for using no contraceptive method at last sexual encounter.
“The lack of change in risk behaviors in 2002 and between 2006 and 2010 is consistent with recent trends in teen pregnancy and birth rates, when, despite small fluctuations in rates between 2005 and 2008, the birth rates were essentially the same in 2002 and 2008 — years that correspond to the last two NSFG years,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) was conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) with the support and assistance of a number of other organizations and individuals.
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