Ambivalent Messages: Adolescents’ Perspectives on Pregnancy and Birth

Abstract

Abstract:Purpose To examine, from a youth's perspective, adolescent pregnancy and parenting in Baltimore, Maryland, a city with high rates of adolescent pregnancy. MethodsSix gender-stratified focus groups with 13-to 19-year-olds (4 female and 2 male groups; n = 47). We recorded focus groups, transcribed them verbatim, and analyzed them using the constant comparison method. Participants completed questionnaires to collect demographic and behavioral information. ResultsResults fit into a social-ecological framework. Individual (e.g., contraceptive use behaviors, religion), interpersonal (e.g., peer norms, maintaining male partners), and community (e.g., clinic factors, perceptions of community) level influences on adolescent pregnancy emerged. Participants discussed contradictory messages that were often gendered in their expectations; for instance, women were responsible for not getting pregnant and raising children. Adolescents expressed beliefs both against (e.g., challenging to complete school) and supporting early childrearing (e.g., religion). Recommendations for addressing the different influences included mentors, education, and community resources.

Never-Pregnant African American Adolescent Girls' Perceptions of Adolescent Pregnancy

“…The context from which early adolescent never-pregnant females view adolescent pregnancy is heavily intertwined with their desire for parental approval, academic/athletic achievement, and peer acceptance. This is consistent with previous literature (Kogan et al, 2013; Tanner et al, 2013). However, findings underscore the emotional struggles of early adolescents as they try to give meaning to the potential impact pregnancy would have on their lives.…”

“…Questions outlined in the interview guide explored these factors as they related to adolescents females’ perceptions of adolescent pregnancy and how becoming pregnant as an adolescent would impact their lives. In this study, the concepts identified in the integrated conceptual framework were selected based on findings from other studies focused on adolescent pregnancy and sexual risk reduction that examined factors that influence and predict sexual behavior (Buhi & Goodson, 2007; Kogan et al, 2013; Mollborn, 2010; Tanner et al, 2013). …”

The “kaleidoscope” of factors influencing urban adolescent pregnancy in Baltimore, Maryland

“…The study results are consistent with previous work that has framed adolescent pregnancy as a multi-systemic, multi-level issue (Catania & Dolcini, 2012;Cavazos-Rehg et al, 2010;Pedrosa, Pires, Carvalho, Canavarro, & Dattilio, 2011). The different social-ecological influences in Baltimore that affect adolescent pregnancy underscore the importance of considering the larger social context of adolescents' lives (Tanner et al, 2013). Geographical mapping is a tool that can support understanding of the contextual variables (e.g., poverty) related to adolescent pregnancy (Blake & Bentov, 2001;Kegler, Rodine, Marshall, Oman, & McLeroy, 2003).…”

Discovering Self

“…Research on adolescent pregnancy has focused on incidence and prevalence rates, factors associated with teen pregnancy, the structure of adolescent mother's family of origin, and the effectiveness of pregnancy prevention programs (Dogan-Ateş & Carrión-Basham, 2007;Erdmans & Black, 2008;Hoffman & Maynard, 2008;Mercer, 1981Mercer, , 1985SmithBattle, 1995SmithBattle, , 2007Tanner et al, 2013). Researchers have also studied teen pregnancy as a phenomenon linked to individual behaviors and risk-taking lifestyle choices (Breheny & Stephens, 2010).…”