Prospective Associations Among Youth Religiosity and Religious Denomination and Youth Contraception Use

J Relig Health. 2020 Feb;59(1):555-569. doi: 10.1007/s10943-017-0426-9.

Abstract

This study prospectively investigates associations among youth religiosity, religious denomination, and contraception use. Associations between youth religiosity and religious denomination, and type of contraceptive used and consistent contraceptive use among sexually active youth (N = 757) were analyzed using multinomial and binomial logistic regression. Identifying with a religious denomination was a predictor of dual contraceptive use relative to using no method of contraception (AOR = 2.17). There was no association between youth religiosity and type of contraceptive use or contraceptive consistency. Religious leaders and public health practitioners should collaborate to develop strategies to engage in conversations with sexually active youth about contraceptive use.

Keywords: Contraception; Family planning; Religiosity; Religious denomination; Teen pregnancy prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Christianity / psychology*
  • Communication
  • Contraception / methods*
  • Contraception / psychology
  • Contraception Behavior / psychology*
  • Contraception Behavior / statistics & numerical data
  • Family Planning Services / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / prevention & control*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Religion
  • Religion and Medicine*
  • Religion and Psychology
  • Religion and Sex*
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data