Black Couples and Birth Control: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Reported Practices

A research project aimed at understanding the process of birth control among black couples is described. This focus has been lacking in the research literature, if not in the theoretical literature. Knowledge, attitudes, and reported practices of matched pairs of black couples in a northern and a southern city were compared. Female partners were found to have more knowledge about birth control methods, more positive attitudes toward specific birth control methods, and reported more usage of birth control methods. When age, education and marital status were controlled, these findings remained essentially the same. The findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to family planning programs and community health education programs among black couples.