Targeting Rural Adolescent Pregnancy: Modifiable Protective Factors and Contraceptive Use

Rural adolescent pregnancy is a serious public health issue, largely due to low contraceptive use. Existing data focuses on urban populations. Using a positive youth development framework, we examine associations between modifiable protective factors and birth control use in a rural population.

Prior to an evidence-based health education program, students in 10th grade health class in two low-to-middle income rural schools completed surveys. For contraceptive use at last sex, students could check all methods that applied which were collapsed into three rank-ordered categories: none, condoms only, and hormonal contraception. Predictor variables included sexual self-efficacy (six items, α = 0.66, "able to say no"), parent connectedness (five items, α = 0.94, "satisfaction with your parent/guardian?"), language acculturation (one item, "in your home do you speak…"), school connectedness (five items, α = 0.85, "I feel close to people at my school") and adverse childhood experiences (eight item score). These variables were entered into a multivariable logistic ordinal regression.

The sample (N = 287) was 52% female, 48% LatinX and 49% white. Higher sexual self-efficacy and parent connectedness scores significantly increased the odds of using more effective birth control. Higher language acculturation (more likely to speak another language at home) suggested less likely to use more effective birth control. School connection and adverse childhood experiences were not significant in the final model.

Contraception focused interventions in rural communities should address modifiable protective factors, such as self-efficacy and parent connection. Interventions need to be trauma-informed and language accessible.