Understanding pregnancy intentions and attitudes towards contraception and abortion among male juvenile justice involved youth
Contraception
Awarded 2017
Trainee Grants
Maria Catrina Jaime, PhD, MPH
University of California, Davis
$7,500

Adolescent childbearing is a public health concern with significant consequences for teen parents and their children. As prior teen pregnancy prevention efforts have primarily focused on teen mothers with limited attention to teen fathers, gaps remain in understanding male pregnancy intentions, views of abortion, and influences on contraceptive use. Rigid norms about masculinity have been found to contribute to sexual risk behaviors among young men. However, studies have yet to examine the ways concepts of masculinity shape pregnancy intentions, partner communication, utilization of abortion services, and fertility behaviors. As juvenile justice involved youth (JJIY) are at particularly elevated risk for adolescent fatherhood, we propose to conduct qualitative interviews with male JJIY. Building on input from juvenile justice stakeholders in Northern California and a reproductive justice framework, we will explore the degree to which social and cultural factors related to masculinity influence pregnancy intentions, partner communication, and sexual risk behaviors. Understanding the attitudes and behaviors that influence male pregnancy intentions will contribute to the development of innovative, pregnancy prevention programs tailored for male JJIY that aim to reduce rates of undesired pregnancy experienced by this population.