World J Mens Health.  2020 Oct;38(4):573-581. 10.5534/wjmh.190098.

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

• Nguyen BT
• Violette C
• Li HZ
• Jensen JT

• KMID: 2506422
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.190098

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 nationallyrepresentative 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.

Keyword

Condoms; Contraception behavior; Family planning; Men; Pregnancy; unplanned; Unsafe sex