Adolescence is the age of crises, changes, adaptation to the new body and new attitudes towards life. If we add to this the meaning of pregnancy from personal, social and family points of view, we will understand how difficult it can be for the adolescents. The purpose of this study was to identify where the pregnant teenagers look for support. Results showed that they had family support, mainly from parents, and less frequently from the baby's father. It also showed the pregnancy acceptance, its relation to school abandonment, the girls' idealized vision of pregnancy and future expectations, the concern about biological aspects and the lack of concern about real problems.

Aiming at studying the mental health nurse's management activity as an instrument in the work process, a bibliographic study on nursing publications from 1988 to 1997 which concerned that topic was carried out. By reading and critically analyzing 8 articles and 19 selected theses and dissertations, the major characteristics of such practice were identified, namely: mental health nurses are responsible for the nursing team and care according to the logic determined by the institution; their actions are not planned, coordinated or evaluated; management activities take most of their time and direct nursing care is given by the auxiliary nursing team whilst in extra-hospital services, direct and group care are more frequent.

Gonçalves SD, Parada CMGL, Bertoncello NMF. Percepção de mães adolescentes acerca da participação paterna na gravidez, nascimento e criação do filho. Rev Esc Enferm USP 2001; 35(4): 406-13. RESUMO