School-based clinic use and other factors affecting adolescent contraceptive behavior

Adolescent risk taking, preventive behavior, and contraceptive use were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire in a sample of 260 inner-city high school students targeted by a school-based health clinic. Multivariate models consisting of individual and environmental variables significantly predicted sexual activity and contraceptive use. Older age at first intercourse, higher number of welfare benefits received by the household (including Medicaid, food stamps, and free or reduced price lunch), and use of the school-based clinic were significant positive predictors of more frequent contraceptive use by adolescents. Results of our study suggest that programs may be having some success in encouraging and enabling sexually active adolescents to use contraception and to use it more consistently. Rigorous program evaluations should help program planners and policy makers design and refine adolescent pregnancy-prevention efforts.