I told him I’m gonna get it’

Intimate partner birth control communication among homeless young women

Bibliographic Data

ID15099415
AuthorsOlivia N Kachingwe (0000-0002-2354-6386, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA, corresponding author), Danielle R Phillips (0000-0002-5487-1747, Department of Social Work, School of Social Work, Baltimore, MD, USA), Michelle Jasczynski (0000-0001-8479-6779, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Emily Hillig (Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Rebecca Chavez (Youth Outreach (YO!) Program, Waikiki Health, Honolulu, HI, USA), Jacqueline Tellei (Youth Outreach (YO!) Program, Waikiki Health, Honolulu, HI, USA), Elizabeth M Aparicio (0000-0001-8924-5757, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA)
Year2023
Volume25
Issue2
Pages159-175
Publication date2023-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2021.2025431
PMID35020565
OpenAlexW4205112005
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited36

Homeless youth have disproportionately high rates of unintended pregnancy and STIs. Enhancing communication between sexual partners can improve sexual health outcomes, yet little is known about this topic among homeless youth; therefore, this study aimed to examine how homeless youth communicate with their partners about birth control. In-depth semi-structured interviews regarding intimate partner birth control communication were conducted with 10 homeless young women aged 14-22 years following their completion of a comprehensive sexual health program ( Wahine Talk ). We transcribed the interviews verbatim and used a structured, inductive analytic approach to identify themes. Analysis identified three themes: Getting the Conversation Started, Conversation Content, and Impact of Conversation. Birth control conversations were prompted by programme participation, birth control side effects, and family members' interest in homeless youth becoming pregnant. Barriers to communication included fear and mistimed conversations (e.g. during the initiation of sex). Homeless young people shared simultaneous desires to delay pregnancy and concerns about side effects of birth control use. Discussions about birth control with their partners may demonstrably improve homeless youth's intimate relationships and family planning efforts. Providers can support homeless young women by helping them plan conversation timing and addressing fear, including the risk of violence

Birth control · Conversation · Developmental psychology · Domestic violence · Environmental health · Family planning · Poison control · Population · Reproductive health · Suicide prevention · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Homelessness and Social Issues · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology