Being Prepared

This research examines how maternal attitudes toward teenagers carrying condoms interact with maternal perceptions of adolescent sexual behavior and the likelihood of condom discussions with offspring. We also examine whether condom discussion leads to the use of a condom at the adolescent's sexual debut. Study participants were 907 minority youth, ages 14 to 17 years, and their mothers from New York, Alabama and Puerto Rico. Logistic regressions reveal that mother's age, belief about the sexuality of her offspring and the youth's gender affected mother's attitude regarding her adolescent carrying condoms and whether or not condom discussion occurred. Having a condom discussion with mother, being sexually active and being male increased the adolescent's willingness to carry condoms. Among sexually active adolescents, condom discussions and being female predicted condom use at sexual debut. The implications for teen pregnancy and sexually transmit ted disease prevention programs are discussed in the light of these results.