Abstract
To identify gender differences in correlates of anticipation and initiation of sexual activity in the baseline survey of 562
African-American 5th grade students prior to initiation of a school-based pregnancy prevention intervention curriculum. Students
from 16 elementary schools were administered the baseline questionnaire during classroom periods. Using these data, binary
and ordered logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors affecting virginity and anticipation of sexual activity
separately by gender, and tests of interaction between each factor and gender were conducted on the combined sample. More
boys than girls had already had sex (18% vs. 5%) and anticipated having sexual intercourse in the next 12 months (56% vs.
22%). Boys and girls also differed in the factors that affected these outcomes. The perception that their neighborhood was
safe reduced the odds that boys anticipated sexual activity but was not associated with this outcome among girls. Pubertal
knowledge increased the odds of anticipation, but only among boys. Attitudes favoring abstinence decreased anticipation of
sex among both genders, but slightly more among girls than boys. Having more frequent parent–child communication about sex
was associated with increased anticipation among girls but decreased anticipation among boys. Curriculum based approaches
to adolescent pregnancy prevention are appropriate for 5th grade elementary students who may already be anticipating sexual
activity in communities with disproportionate rates of teen pregnancy. The design of the interventions should consider the
differences in motivating factors by gender.
African-American 5th grade students prior to initiation of a school-based pregnancy prevention intervention curriculum. Students
from 16 elementary schools were administered the baseline questionnaire during classroom periods. Using these data, binary
and ordered logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors affecting virginity and anticipation of sexual activity
separately by gender, and tests of interaction between each factor and gender were conducted on the combined sample. More
boys than girls had already had sex (18% vs. 5%) and anticipated having sexual intercourse in the next 12 months (56% vs.
22%). Boys and girls also differed in the factors that affected these outcomes. The perception that their neighborhood was
safe reduced the odds that boys anticipated sexual activity but was not associated with this outcome among girls. Pubertal
knowledge increased the odds of anticipation, but only among boys. Attitudes favoring abstinence decreased anticipation of
sex among both genders, but slightly more among girls than boys. Having more frequent parent–child communication about sex
was associated with increased anticipation among girls but decreased anticipation among boys. Curriculum based approaches
to adolescent pregnancy prevention are appropriate for 5th grade elementary students who may already be anticipating sexual
activity in communities with disproportionate rates of teen pregnancy. The design of the interventions should consider the
differences in motivating factors by gender.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-011-0879-5
- Authors
- Karen M. Anderson, DC-Baltimore Research Center on Child Health Disparities, Howard University, Howard University Research Building 1, Room 214, 1840 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
- Helen P. Koo, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Renée R. Jenkins, DC-Baltimore Research Center on Child Health Disparities, Howard University, Howard University Research Building 1, Room 214, 1840 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
- Leslie R. Walker, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
- Maurice Davis, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Qing Yao, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- M. Nabil El-Khorazaty, RTI International, Rockville, MD, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875