Perceived Consequences of Childbearing Among Adolescent Girls

Although the teenage birthrate has declined over the past decade, teen pregnancy and childbirth remains a significant problem, with one million pregnancies and 500,000 live births occurring among 15- to 19-year old US females each year. There is also abundant research documenting the adverse effects of teenage childbearing for both mother and child. These include diminished educational attainment, poverty, limited career opportunities, poorer birth outcomes, and emotional distress. Although numerous studies have delineated a host of individual and environmental risk factors for adolescent pregnancy and childbearing, fewer studies have assessed reasons why an adolescent may choose to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term.

These authors explored whether a positive perception of the consequences of teenage childbearing was associated with a higher risk of sexual behaviors, such as unprotected intercourse, that increased the likelihood of pregnancy. This cross-sectional study, conducted in 3 high schools in the urban Los Angeles …