What Do Teens Know About the FACTS OF LIFE?

A survey was conducted through the Springfield, Missouri, Planned Parenthood and local schools to assess teenage knowledge of contraception, abortion, reproduction, and venereal disease. Response was voluntary and the sample is not representative. Most of the respondents were white and female. While 2/3 of the respondents said they were sexually experienced, only 1/3 had used some method of birth control. The questionnaire included 25 statements concerning specific methods of birth control, 5 dealing with reproduction, and 3 with abortion. The teenagers were not generally well informed. Lack of information rather than incorrect information was the main problem. The respondents were much better informed regarding abortion than they were about birth control or reproduction. They were also generally well informed about venereal disease. On both total knowledge of the subject and specific knowledge regarding birth control, females scored higher than males and whites scored higher than blacks. Knowledge increased with age and educational level. Those with sexual experience and those with birth control experience scored higher than those without.