Abstinence from vaginal intercourse among Black adolescent females as a means of pregnancy prevention

Adolescent females are initiating sex at a much earlier age, which increases their risk for adverse outcomes such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Early childbearing and STIs among adolescents are significant contributors to societal problems in the United States. The incidence of sexual activity remains considerably higher among Black adolescent females, especially at younger ages. Black adolescent females have higher teenage birthrates and STIs compared to their non-Hispanic White and Hispanic counterparts. The only method proven to be 100% effective in preventing the adverse outcomes of sexual activity is abstinence from sexual intercourse. Abstaining from vaginal intercourse reduces an adolescent female\u27s risk for pregnancy, and some STIs including HIV/AIDS. Prior to developing abstinence based or abstinence-only interventions the variables that influence the Black adolescent females\u27 decision to abstain from vaginal intercourse must be identified for the interventions to be effective. The purpose of this study was to test the relationships among the Theory of Planned Behavior variables, past sexual experience and abstinence from vaginal intercourse in the past 30 days. The Theory of Planned Behavior served as the theoretical framework that guided the study and provided the specific linkages among the study variables (beliefs, attitude towards the behavior, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and behavior). The Theory of Planned Behavior guided the focus group discussions, which were used for instrument development by the researcher. The final study participants consisted of 165 Black adolescent females between the ages of 12 and 17 years that completed both data collections. Intentions to abstain from vaginal intercourse in the next 30 days was the best predictor of abstinence behaviors in the past 30 days among Black adolescent females when using logistic regression analysis. Multiple regression equations identified past sexual experience, attitude towards the behavior, and subjective norms as significant in predicting intentions to abstain from vaginal intercourse. This study found the use of the Theory of Reasoned Action to be a better framework for predicting abstinence intentions and behaviors among Black adolescent females