After a review of the literature on teenage sexual behavior and contraceptive practice and their consequences, this paper presents a brief description of a research project on mother-daughter communication patterns, which is intended to investigate the influence of female parents on the sexual and contraceptive behavior of teenage daughters. It also examines patterns of communication about sex roles and sexual behavior between mothers and daughters. The model for the study looks at family structural variables attitudinal congruence between mother and daughter. The sample consists of 400 15-year old unmarried women and their mothers. This research is expected to add to the understanding of sexual and contraceptive knowledge of young women, and might suggest appropriate intervention strategies. (Author/LFB)