Parent Perspectives about Initiating Contraception Conversations with Adolescent Daughters

Parent-youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) conversations are critical to reducing adolescent pregnancy, yet many parents do not discuss contraception before youth become sexually active. We aimed to describe parental perspectives about when and how to initiate contraception discussions, characterize motivators to discuss contraception, and explore the role of health care providers in supporting contraception communication with youth.

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 parents of female youth ages 9-20 recruited from areas of Dallas, Texas, with high rates of racial and ethnic disparities in adolescent pregnancy. We analyzed interview transcripts with a combined deductive and inductive approach, with discrepancies resolved by consensus.

Parents were 60% Hispanic and 40% non-Hispanic Black, and 45% were interviewed in Spanish. Most identified as female (90%). Many initiated contraception discussions on the basis of age, physical development, emotional maturity, or perceived likelihood of sexual activity. Some expected their daughters to initiate SRH discussions. Cultural avoidance of SRH discussions often motivated parents to improve communication. Other motivators included reducing pregnancy risk and managing anticipated youth sexual autonomy. Some feared that discussing contraception could encourage sex. Parents trusted and wanted pediatricians to serve as a bridge to discuss contraception with youth before sexual debut through confidential, comfortable communication.

Tension between the desire to prevent adolescent pregnancy, cultural avoidance, and fear of encouraging sexual behaviors causes many parents to delay contraception discussions before sexual debut. Health care providers can serve as a bridge between sexually naïve adolescents and parents by proactively discussing contraception using confidential and individually tailored communication.