Raymond Dong
Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Raymond Dong
Raymond Dong is a Sophomore at Wesleyan University pursuing a degree in Economics and Government. He is also a coordinator for the Wesleyan Food Rescue.
Abstract: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a key determinant of reproductive health, shaping access to contraception and attitudes toward its use. Prior work shows that individuals with fewer economic resources face greater structural barriers to obtaining contraception (Dehlendorf et al., 2010) and are more likely to experience unintended pregnancy (Iseyemi et al., 2017). Research also suggests that socioeconomic disadvantage can influence adolescents’ beliefs and intentions surrounding contraceptive behaviors (Institute of Medicine, 1995). Using Wave I data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), this study examines whether SES predicts adolescents’ intentions to use contraception. Contraceptive intention was measured using a 7-item motivation scale, and SES was operationalized as family income and the ability to pay bills. ANOVA and regression analyses show that adolescents from higher-income households report significantly stronger intentions to use contraception than those from lower-income households. These results suggest that socioeconomic disadvantage shapes not only access to contraception but also the motivational factors that precede use, underscoring the need for reproductive health interventions tailored to low-income adolescents.
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