Fertility, Menstrual Characteristics, and Contraceptive Practices anong White, Black, and Southeast Asian Refugee Adolescents

This study compares fertility and menstrual characteristics and contraceptive practices of white, black, and Southeast Asian refugee adolescents participating in the Minneapolis Health Department's Maternal and Infant Care Program between 1980 and 1982. Mean ages were similar among all racial g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Adolescence 1989-10, Vol.24 (95), p.647
Main Authors: Swenson, Ingrid, Erickson, Deanne, Ehlinger, Edward, Carlson, Gertrude, Swaney, Sheldon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Birth control
Contraception
Hmong People
Menstruation
Minority & ethnic groups
Refugees
Reproduction
Social research
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Summary:This study compares fertility and menstrual characteristics and contraceptive practices of white, black, and Southeast Asian refugee adolescents participating in the Minneapolis Health Department's Maternal and Infant Care Program between 1980 and 1982. Mean ages were similar among all racial groups; however, half the Hmong adolescents had a live birth as compared to less than 25% of the other racial groups. More than 75% of the Hmong and other Southeast Asian adolescents were married as compared to 11% of the whites and 8% of the blacks. Menarche was significantly later (2 years) for Hmong and other Southeast Asians, and the interval between menarche and first pregnancy was significantly shorter for the Hmong. While more than half of the whites and blacks previously used contraception, 14% of the Hmong and 29% of the other Southeast Asians had used contraception. Oral contraceptives were the most frequently used method for whites, blacks, and Southeast Asians; the Hmong were equally likely to choose oral contraceptives or barrier methods. The Hmong were less likely to choose contraception postpartum than were the other groups.
ISSN:0001-8449