Impact of Attitudes Toward Premarital Sex and Adolescent Pregnancy On Contraceptive Knowledge And Utilization: Do Families And Neighborhoods’ Characteristics Work?

Zacharie Tsala Dimbuene, Université de Montréal
Barthelemy D. Kuate, Université de Montréal

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa still experience higher levels of unintended pregnancies, maternal morbidity and mortality, STD/HIV/AIDS prevalence, and low contraceptive use. Previous studies well established that sexual behaviors are shaped by multiple factors at various levels. Demographic, economic, cognitive and contextual factors have been identified as potential factors to be influential in determining the path through which human beings sexually act. Furthermore, social norms especially attitudes toward premarital sexuality is an important way influencing youth’s behaviors. Youth’s attitudes toward perceive premarital sexuality and costs/benefits attached to adolescent pregnancy necessarily shape contraceptive knowledge and use. Objectives: To determine how attitudes toward premarital sexuality and adolescent pregnancy, familial and neighborhoods’ characteristics foster contraceptive knowledge and utilization. Expected findings: Youth considering costs of premarital sexuality and adolescent pregnancy are less knowledgeable of contraceptive methods; more likely to use contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy and less likely to be sexually active in last 12 months.