Contraceptive Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of Black Adolescent Males Attending a Predominately Black University

A survey of 107 Black male college students attending Howard University Washington D.C. on knowledge attitudes and practices regarding contraception revealed early age of 1st sexual intercourse incomplete contraceptive education and a variable degree of male responsibility. The survey was conducted in freshmen and sophomore general health classes using 51 multiple choice and open-ended questions. The subjects mean age was 18.3 and age at 1st intercourse 12.0 (mean 11.3 for freshmen 12.2 for sophomores and 13.3 for students classified by grade). Contraceptives currently being used were condom by 41.1% withdrawal by 19.6% pill by 17.8% rhythm by 2.8% douche by 1.9% and IUD by 0.9%. 11.9% used no method. When asked to rate 6 methods for effectiveness 37% chose pills as most effective 24% chose condoms 8.4% chose diaphragms and 4.7% chose rhythm. 62% overall believed that contraception is a shared responsibility with percentages rising with age. In open-ended questions many students expressed the feeling that their attitudes affected their practice more than any contraception education. Some said they were using because they were too young to be a father others that the woman insisted. Among the reasons cited for why they were using were: It did enter my mind; It should be spontaneous; not enough time; it reduces sexual pleasure; and lack of knowledge. The study suggested that early physical maturation had surpassed the young mens education and sense of responsibility.