This study examined sources of sex education for Black adolescent females and assessed relationships among sex education, knowledge about contraception and reproduction, and contraceptive use. The majority of adolescents reported having discussions with parents and having formal instruction regarding pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and contraception. Neither parental discussion nor formal instruction on pregnancy and the menstrual cycle was related to reproductive knowledge, which was poor among the adolescents. A sample of older women had significantly greater reproductive knowledge than did the adolescents, although only one-fifth of older women responded correctly. Formal instruction on contraception was positively related to contraceptive knowledge, which was positively associated with ever-use of contraception, use at first intercourse, current use, and effectiveness of current method. Age at first intercourse was a significant predictor of contraceptive use and effectiveness at first intercourse.
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