Fertility and Family Planning Among Young Adults in Jamaica

The 1987 Jamaica Young Adult Reproductive Health Survey of 2141 females and 2084 males showed that 66% of all females and 82% of all males 14-24 years of age have ever had sexual intercourse. The average age at 1st intercourse was 17 among the females and 14 among the males. 41% of females had used a method of contraception at the time of 1st intercourse; the principal method used was the condom. In contrast only 11% of males practiced contraception at 1st intercourse. Nearly 1/3 of all 15-24-year-old females were in school when they became pregnant with their 1st child. Most of these young mothers (81%) did not return to school after they gave birth and 3/4 of them reported the births as unintended. Thus a substantial number of young Jamaican women must seek careers other than those that require a higher education. This study indicates a need for family planning programs specifically directed toward young people and for improved courses in sex education at a very early age. (authors)