Reproductive knowledge, attitudes and behavior among young adolescents in Jamaica

Data are from the Jamaica Adolescent Study a longitudinal study of 945 adolescents which started in 1995. This paper reports on questionnaire data collected in September 1995 and describes...young adolescents reproductive behaviour and their knowledge and attitudes regarding such subjects as sexuality family planning and pregnancy [in Jamaica]. Reported sexual activity was vastly different between girls and boys. Six percent of girls compared to 63 percent of boys said that they had experienced sexual intercourse. Reported use of contraception at first intercourse was higher among girls (48 percent) than boys (38 percent). There were considerable differences in attitudes and knowledge between boys and Girls reported holding significantly more traditional or conservative views about sexual activity and pregnancy. Overall reproductive knowledge was very low among all study participants. However boys did demonstrate higher levels of knowledge than girls. (EXCERPT)