- Tend not to plan ahead or anticipate consequences
- Think they are not at risk
- Feel invulnerable
- Lack confidence or motivation to use
- Embarrassed or not assertive
- Lack power and skill to negotiate use
- Social or cultural expectations or beliefs
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At this stage of life, most young people focus on the present
and tend not to plan ahead or anticipate the long-term consequences
of their choices. Many unmarried youth think of contraception
or family planning as something married couples do - they do
not think of themselves as "planning a family" and
they may have difficulty discussing contraception.
Most youth also do not think they are at risk, seeing themselves
as invulnerable to potentially dangerous consequences of sexual
activity, such as pregnancy and STIs. They may lack the motivation
or confidence to be successful users of contraceptive methods.
They also may be embarrassed to seek out services or may not
be assertive enough to get their needs met.
Many youth lack the power and skill to use contraceptives,
especially young women who must negotiate the use of condoms
with a male partner. Many young women are forced to have sex
and have no control over contraceptive use. There may also be
cultural expectations or beliefs that limit the use of contraception.
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