Who's to blame: adolescent sexual activity

Fifty case studies of adolescent women seeking contraceptives for the first time suggest no direct relationship between the initiation of sexual activity and the availability of contraceptives at family planning clinics. However, the persistence of sexual activity, once initiated, may be influenced by the availability of contraceptives when the adolescent realizes she wants to continue sexual activity and does not want to become pregnant. Five characteristics of the adolescents which support the above finding are discussed.