Expectations for Sex without Birth Control among Young Men: Risk Factors from the USA National Survey of Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge

Abstract

Purpose Male partner engagement in family planning can influence women's contraceptive behaviors and risk of unintended pregnancy. We identified factors associated with self-reported expectations for future contraceptive use among a nationally-representative sample of young men. Materials and Methods The National Survey of Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge asked unmarried, sexually active men (ages, 18–29 y), who were neither involved in nor trying for a pregnancy, about their likelihood of having sex without contraception in the following three months. Demographics, social factors, and contraceptive awareness and attitudes were examined for potential associations using weighted analyses. Results Of 903 men surveyed, nearly 600 were sexually active and expected to have sex in the following 3 months; nearly half (43%) reported at least some likelihood (23% slightly, 7% very, 13% extreme likely) that they would have sex without any contraception. Factors independently associated with sex without contraception included: not completing high school, not being in school full-time, not receiving sex education, limited awareness of contraceptive methods, multiple sexual partners, and friends with unintended pregnancies. Conclusions Despite not wanting a pregnancy, many young men report they will have sex without contraception. While comprehensive sex education may increase contraceptive use, interpersonal and social factors also influence men's expected use of contraception.

An increasing disinterest in fatherhood among childless men in the United States: A brief report

“…Should apathy toward fatherhood among childless men continue, it is possible that there could also be an increase in unplanned pregnancies and unwanted births. This could be especially prevalent among young men who often have limited contraception knowledge (Vargas et al, 2017) and/or are willing to have sex without contraception despite not intending to have children (Nguyen et al, 2020). A renewed focus on men's fertility intentions in family planning research can advance our understanding of child well-being in the context of paternal ambivalence.…”

Associations between sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitude and practice of partners and the occurrence of unintended pregnancy

“…In developing countries, ~50–60% of the population does not use contraception ( 23 ). In sub-Saharan Africa, South, Central, and Southeast Asia, up to 87% of unintended pregnancies occur in women who do not use contraception ( 59 ), which may be related to people's lower educational background, limited awareness of contraceptive methods, less sex education, and limited choice of effective contraceptives ( 20 , 24 ).…”

“…Although people have a preliminary understanding of the existing contraceptive methods, the in-depth understanding of these methods is limited, or the misunderstanding of contraceptive knowledge will lead to an increase in the proportion of ineffective contraception ( 22 ), which will lead to the occurrence of unintended pregnancy. In addition, never use of contraceptive methods is also one of the main reasons for unintended pregnancy, and it can be seen from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) that the proportion of never use of contraceptive methods is high in developing countries ( 23 ), which is mainly related to the partner's negative contraceptive attitude, and of course to the partner's limited awareness of contraceptive methods, less sex education, and limited choice of effective contraceptives ( 24 , 25 ). In conclusion, the importance of partners' knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in reducing unintended pregnancies is well-documented.…”