Explaining trends in contraceptive use among teen females 1995-2002.

In the past decade analyses of high school aged teens suggest that contraceptive use at most recent sex has increased. While there have been up-to-date trend estimates of sexual activity and contraceptive use among high school populations the most recent nationally representative estimates for teens aged 15-19 are from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). In October we will have access to 2002 NSFG data for historical comparisons of adolescent sexual activity and contraceptive use. The goal of the proposed paper is to examine trends in contraceptive use among teen females. We will examine whether similar family individual relationship and partner characteristics are associated with contraceptive use at most recent sex and contraceptive consistency in the past 3 months using both the 1995 and 2002 data files. We will also test whether the characteristics of sexually active teens have changed over time and examine whether trends in family background individual characteristics and relationship and partner characteristics of sexually active teens help to explain trends in their contraceptive experiences over historical time. (excerpt)