Objectives: To examine the impact of gender norms on American Indian (AI) adolescents’ sexual health behavior.
Methods: The project collected qualitative data at a reservation site and an urban site through 24 focus groups and 20
key informant interviews.
Results: The reasons that AI youth choose to abstain or engage in sexual intercourse and utilize contraception vary based on gender ideologies defined by the adolescent’s environment.
These include social expectations from family and peers, defined roles with in relationships, and gender empowerment
gaps.
Conclusions: Gender ideology plays a large role in decisions about contraception and sexual activity for AI adolescents, and it is vital to include redefinitions of gender norms within AI teen pregnancy prevention program.
Key words: teen pregnancy, American Indians, gender norms, sexual health