Adolescent pregnancy: a report on ACYF-funded research and demonstration projects

Child Today. 1980 Nov-Dec;9(6):10-11, 35.

Abstract

PIP: Findings of the 1980 conference sponsored by the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families to review the progress made by 16 agency-funded research and demonstration projects on adolescent pregnancy are discussed. Very young mothers were found to be naive about sexuality and family planning. The prematurity rate of their infants was twice the national average, and they had more birth and delivery complications. Another study found that teenage mothers underestimate their infants' needs and abilities in cognitive, social and language development. Young mothers with positive attitudes toward their pregnancies and children were found to have better maternal-infant relationships and to be more likely to stay in school and delay a subsequent preganancy. Although many agencies offering help were identified in another study, few adolescents were aware of their existence. Need for a wide variety of programs to help adolescents was seen. The effectiveness of states in dealing with the problems of adolescent mothers was found to be limited by a lack of data and a lack of categorical funding for this population. Several investigators stressed the need to provide more support for members of the girl's families and for adolescent fathers.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attitude
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Delivery of Health Care / economics
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence*
  • Public Policy
  • Research
  • United States
  • United States Dept. of Health and Human Services
  • Work