A study of contraceptive practices in a selected group of urban, Negro mothers in Baltimore.

Abstract

One hundred eighty -one mothers whose children received comprehensive care in the child health clinic of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene were interviewed by 4 public health nurses on the clinic staff regarding their knowledge of, use of, and attitudes toward contraception. All respondents had been married , had at least 1 living child, and lived in urban East Baltimore. Of the women with no known impediments to pregnancy, 81.4% were currently using 1 or more methods of contraception. The 3 most commonly used methods were condom, chemical agents, and diaphragm. Of the total number of mothers interviewed, 83.4% reported use of contraceptives at one time. Comparing current use with ever use, it was evident that many had tried methods and discontinued them. There was a trend toward greater use of contraceptives as the level of educa- tion and income rose but the differences were not significant. All women knew at least one method of preventing conception. Condon and douche were known by 92%. Usable knowledge of individual methods of contraception far exceeded the actual use of such methods. The average number of children in the mother''s parents'' family was 5.9, the ideal was 3.1, the expected number was 3.1, the number already born was 2.7, and the number desired if starting over was 2.5. The average age of first menstruation was 12.7 years. In general, first knowledge of menstruation, sexual intercourse, and birth of a baby occurred about a year apart, and that of first knowledge of methods of preventing pregnancy was 3 1/2 years later. The peer group was the most frequent source of information about reproductive processes. One hundred sixty-five mothers were asked if they thought that doctors and nurses should wait until mothers asked about birth control before they talked to them about it. Ninety-two% thought that they should not wait. The 3 chief reasons they gave for this were: shyness, the mother''s lack of knowledge, and that having information was a medical and nursing responsibility.