[Contraception and the desire for pregnancy in the adolescent]. / Contraccezione e desiderio di gravidanza nell'adolescente.

PIP: During a 3 year period, 1982-85, 851 adolescents approached the Voluntary Abortion Service of the L. Mangiagali clinic in Milan. The observations resulting from the clinical and psychological work as well as current international literature on the subject of attitudes towards birth control methods among adolescents are reported. A study by Zelnick and Kantner in 1979 and a study by Furstenberg in 1978 are discussed. Here percentages of nonmarried adolescents between 15-19 with sexual experience are researched concerning their use of contraceptives and frequency of sexual relations according to race and educational level of mother or of tutor. The research by the clinic itself centers on the psychological experiences relative to the possibility of becoming pregnant. In the majority of the pre-voluntary abortion cases, 78% of the adolescents rely on ineffective methods (e.g., coitus interruptus), 14% used the barrier method, 7.7% oral contraceptives and 0.3% IUDs. It is concluded that the adolescent today initiates sexual relations at a much earlier age and confronts the problems of contraceptives without making a decisive and secure choice. One reason is that there does not seem to be suitable institutions where questions relating to sexuality and contraception can be directed. Another reason consists in the conflict between a subconscious desire for pregnancy versus a rational desire to avoid it. During an adolescent's developing years the counsel and support from parents, instructors and institutions of society are important.^ieng