Examined myths and stereotypes associated with the sexual and reproductive behavior of the urban poor, particularly poor White, Black, and Mexican-American women. Through extensive analysis of differences in family planning and fertility patterns, conclusions were reached about the relationship between sexual stereotypes, family social services,…

Many males still perceive contraception as a woman's responsibility. This paper describes male contraceptives and their effectiveness and draws implications for school and community health education professionals. More equitable sharing of the responsibility for contraception might result in more effective contraception. (PP)

Discusses the legal ramifications of informed consent for medical treatment of schoolchildren, including the problems posed by parents unwilling to give adequate medical protection to their children because of religious or other reasons. Covers the types of medical care that minors can receive without parental consent. (WD)

Family background influences only a few sex-related topics of communication between mothers and daughters but these are significant: birth control and sexual intercourse. Moral training is not neglected in traditional conservative families but mothers seem more reluctant to discuss these topics. (JAC)

An experimental sex education program designed for the junior high school adolescent is described. The program's goal is to affect primary prevention of adolescent pregnancy and other problems related to adolescent sexuality. (Author/JMF)

This paper describes the behavior patterns adopted by enslaved Black women to protect themselves and their children and to undermine the economic and sexual oppression to which they were subjected. Sexual abstinence, abortion, and infanticide are the major phenomena documented and discussed. (EB)

Discusses the need for a national population policy. Includes some basic actions to be taken by the government and by environmentalists. Provides some background U.S. population information. (MA)

Evaluates some reasons for the increase of Catholics who disagree with papal encyclicals and for the decline of practicing Catholics. Provides suggestions that could improve the situation and possibly reverse the current trend of Catholics disassociating themselves from the Church. (Author/RK)

Examined relationships among sexual self-acceptance, communication with sexual partners about sex and contraception, and contraceptive use in 201 adolescent females, ages 14 to 19. Found that females with greater sexual self-acceptance communicated more with partners about sex and contraception. Discussion about contraception, but not about sex,…

Data from 86 developing countries suggest that foreign investment and debt dependency have adverse indirect effects on child mortality--effects mediated by variables linked to industrialism theory and gender stratification theory: women's education, health, and reproductive autonomy and rate of economic growth. State strength was related to lower…

School leaders must make good decisions about sex education based on valid information. This article presents 17 arguments most frequently advanced by groups opposing comprehensive sexuality education and examines the scientific literature to determine those arguments' validity. Topics include abstinence instruction, intimate sexual behavior…

Social and cultural norms, institutional reinforcements, and adult oversight that used to enforce a moratorium on adolescent sexual activity have been largely relaxed, and the present approach to sex education is merely leaving adolescents adrift to fend for themselves. It is time to overhaul comprehensive sex education. (SLD)

Presents results of three studies as they relate to family influence on adolescents' sex lives. The studies' results support the hypothesis that the family has a substantial influence on adolescents' sexual and contraceptive behavior, justifying the incorporation of such issues as parent-child communication into sex education programs. (RJM)

Investigates the relationships among teenage women's Contraceptive Self-Efficacy (CSE), reproductive and contraceptive knowledge (RCK), and contraceptive behavior. No significant relationships existed between RCK and behavior. However, CSE explained variance in RCK, while other measures uncovered common areas of misinformation that influence…

Comparison of 64 mothers found that significantly more mothers with histories of childhood sexual abuse, compared to mothers without, reported having detailed discussions with their children regarding sexual development and contraception. Children showed no significant intergroup differences in their sexual knowledge, though children from the…