Abstract
This paper reports the frequency of use of protection and rates of birth control pill/condom use by age and gender among a large, sexually active group of Ontario adolescents who were followed from 12 to 17 years of age. The sample consisted of the 759 males and 690 females who reported engaging in sexual intercourse during the McMaster Teen Project. Significantly more females aged 15–17 years reported always using a method of protection, and using the birth control pill. Condom use was more frequent among males at all ages, but reached statistical significance at ages 12, 13 and 17 years. Although the numbers reporting no use of protection decreased with age, by 17 years 36% of males and 33% of females continued to report no use of protection. Large numbers of sexually active Ontario adolescents continue to be vulnerable to pregnancy, STDs and AIDS.
Résumé
Cet article rend compte de la fréquence d’utilisation de moyens de protection et des taux d’utilisation de condoms et de pilules contraceptives par âge et par sexe au sein d’un important groupe d’adolescents sexuellement actifs en Ontario, qui ont été suivis de l’âge de 12 ans à 17 ans. L’échantillon comprenait 759 garçons et 690 filles qui ont déclaré avoir eu des rapports sexuels pendant la durée du projet McMaster Teen. De manière significative, un plus grand nombre de filles âgées de 15 à 17 ans ont déclaré toujours se servir d’une méthode de protection et prendre une pilule contraceptive. L’utilisation de condoms est apparue plus fréquente chez les garçons de tous les âges mais n’avait de signification statistique que pour ceux âgés de 12, 13 et 17 ans. Bien que le nombre d’adolescents déclarant ne pas se servir de méthode de protection ait diminué à mesure que la catégorie d’âge montait, à 17 ans 36% des garçons et 33% des filles déclaraient encore ne pas se protéger. Un grand nombre d’adolescents ontariens sexuellement actifs continuent de courir des risques de grossesse, de MTS et de sida.
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This study was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health (#00680).
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Thomas, B.H., DiCenso, A. & Griffith, L. Adolescent Sexual Behaviour: Results from an Ontario Sample. Can J Public Health 89, 94–97 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404396
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404396