Early reconception and contraceptive use among black teenage girls after an illegitimate birth

Contraceptive continuation and early reconception rates among a group of low income, black, teenage primiparous women were examined. Subjects who subsequently married following their first pregnancy were significantly more likely to conceive again within 1 yr, but when the association was examined by method of contraception chosen, the difference persisted only for those who selected oral contraceptives. There was no association between method of contraception chosen and subsequent marriage within 2 yr postpartum, although patients who did not marry but reported at the time of delivery that they had plans to marry were more likely to choose oral contraceptives. Selection of the IUD was associated with a set of social situational factors which suggest that family pressures may be an important factor in the choice of this method of contraception. Active use of contraception at 1 yr does not appear to be related to social situational factors in this population. Psychological attributes seem to be more critical. It was shown that passivity was related to continued use of the IUD and discontinued use of oral contraceptives.