The Early Antecedents of Contraceptive Knowledge in Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood: Evidence from a Longitudinal Survey in Ethiopia

David P. Lindstrom, Brown University
Tefera Belachew, Jimma University
Abebe Gebremariam, Jimma University

We use data from four rounds of a longitudinal survey of adolescents and their families collected in southwestern Ethiopia to identify the impact of experiences during early adolescence on contraceptive knowledge in late adolescence and early adulthood. The Jimma Longitudinal Family Survey of Youth conducted by investigators from Brown and Jimma Universities follows a sample of adolescents ages 13-17 at baseline for four years. Results from multivariate analyses indicate that strong attachment to school in early adolescence and early exposure to reproductive health services are associated with contraceptive and condom knowledge in later years when youth have entered or about to enter romantic relationships and sexual activity. The positive impact of early awareness of contraceptive and reproductive health services and contact with the formal health sector on knowledge at older ages provides support for family planning and safe sex interventions that target youth before they become sexually active.