Procreative experiences and orientations toward paternity held by incarcerated adolescent males

Psychosocial Correlates of Adolescent Males' Pregnancy Intention

“…15 Others report the potentially negative consequences for their futures 17 and recognize the additional responsibilities that they would need to take on. 18,19 Understanding male adolescents' motivations for getting someone pregnant and the factors (ie, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions) that characterize those male adolescents who indicate a desire to get someone pregnant may aid in efforts to reduce the negative health consequences of teenage childbearing in the United States. Adolescent pregnancies are often characterized by delayed initiation of prenatal care, poor prenatal health behaviors, and low birth weight infants.…”

How many of the offspring born to teenage fathers are produced by repeat serious delinquents?

“…In addition, services are needed for young males who have a tendency to be violent toward their partners or children. Nesmith et al (1997) found that most incarcerated adolescent males perceived fathering a child as a teenager as desirable, and most felt they were capable of being good fathers, which shows the challenge for prevention in this population. Caddle (1993) has evaluated fatherhood-training courses in Young Offender Institutions with encouraging results; the courses increased young fathers' knowledge of child development and brought about positive changes in their attitudes to family relationships.…”

“…Morris et al (1995) reported that 89% of male detainees were sexually active by age 14. Nesmith et al (1997) found that 40% of incarcerated teenage fathers had caused multiple pregnancies. In another study of incarcerated youth, fatherhood had a significant relationship with recidivism, having had firearm injuries, and a history of current or prior STDs (McLaughlin et al, 1999), emphasizing that problems are indeed compounded in this very high-risk population.…”

“…Studies of incarcerated juvenile offenders also report high rates of promiscuity, and rates of fatherhood ranging from 20% to 26% (McLaughlin et al, 1999;Nesmith et al, 1997).…”

Health Care for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

“…One study found that one-quarter of males had fathered a pregnancy, and 40% of those fathers reported responsibility for more than 1 pregnancy. 41 The 2004 Juvenile Facilities Census 40 found that only 15% to 17% of facilities test all girls for pregnancy on admission. Although a small proportion (4.5%-6.6%) fail to even provide pregnancy tests, the remainder of the facilities test only when it is medically necessary or requested by the adolescent.…”