Karen Benjamin Guzzo|Sarah R. Hayford
Race-Ethnic Differences in Sexual Health Knowledge
Bowling Green State University|Arizona State University
despite extensive research examining correlates unintended fertility remains puzzle racial ethnic minorities likely experience unintended birth nonhispanic whites paper focuses sexual literacy potential precursor unintended fertility analyses use unique dataset unmarried young adults aged 1829 2009 survey unmarried young adults contraceptive knowledge practices examine beliefs regarding pregnancy risks pregnancy fatalism contraceptive side effects bivariate level foreignborn hispanics hold erroneous beliefs risk pregnancy groups nonhispanic blacks likely believe contraceptive side effects nonhispanic whites foreignborn hispanics nonhispanic blacks likely nonhispanic whites hold fatalistic view towards pregnancy raceethnic differences attenuated pregnancy misperceptions fatalism multivariate models controlling sources health information sexual fertility experiences sociodemographic characteristics however nonhispanic blacks remain likely nonhispanic whites believe high chance reduced sexual desire serious health consequences using hormonal contraceptives differences may contribute raceethnic variation contraceptive use ultimately unintended fertility