Adolescent patterns of communication about the menstrual cycle, sex, and contraception

For this investigation, a sample survey of 179 black women representing 53 family units provided data to examine familial patterns in the amounts of information received about the menstrual cycle, sex, and contraception among adolescent daughters, mothers, and grandmothers; the major source of information about these three topic areas; and the impact of that information on the sexual behavior of adolescent women. Significant relationships were found within the triads (of daughter, mothers, and grandmothers) in the amount of information received about the three topic areas, suggesting familial patterns in the amount of information transmitted intergenerationally. This sample was more likely to report mothers as the source of information on the three topics under study. A significant negative relationship existed between the amount of information received about sex and the experience of a pregnancy before age 18 years among the sample group mothers only. Although this sample received large amounts of information about the menstrual cycle, sex, and contraception from their mothers, the information was ascertained through qualitative responses about the lack of information necessary for sexual health and informed decision-making. The very young mean age (12.3 years) at first intercourse and the low proportion (24.2%) of teenagers using a method of birth control at first intercourse suggested that, intergenerationally, communication about sex and contraception may not be meeting adolescent needs. Consequently, attention should be focused on mothers as agents of sexual socialization of teenagers, and concern must be generated among family planning educators and practitioners for the quality of the information mothers are disseminating about sexually related matters and the impact of that information on the sexual health of teenagers.