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Abstract #162395

Colleen P. Crittenden, DrPH, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1520 Clifton Road NE, Room 132, Atlanta, GA 30322, 678-523-2740, ccritte@sph.emory.edu, Neil Boris, MD, Community Health Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., Ste. 2301, New Orleans, LA 70112-2715, Janet C. Rice, PhD, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, Catherine A. Taylor, PhD, Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2300, New Orleans, LA 70112, and David Olds, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Kempe Prevention Research Center for Family & Child Health, 1825 Marion Street, Denver, CO 80218.

Background: Approximately one out of every five young mothers has a second pregnancy within two years following initial pregnancy outcome. Previous research on adolescents at risk for rapid repeat pregnancy has been limited. This study investigates both the predictors and correlates of rapid repeat pregnancy in a sample of urban young mothers.

Methods: Adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (N=354) who were predominantly African-American (94.1%) completed individual interviews during pregnancy and at 24 months postpartum. Interviews addressed socioeconomic conditions, mental health, personality characteristics, self-efficacy, and child-rearing beliefs. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between contextual factors, mental health factors, and past experiences in the prediction of rapid repeat pregnancy.

Results: Forty-two percent (N=147) of adolescents experienced a rapid repeat pregnancy. Reports of later age at menarche (12.43 vs. 11.91; p=.003) and lower scores on three self-reported measures of aggression were significantly associated with rapid repeat pregnancy. Both age at menarche and aggression contributed independently to the prediction of a closely spaced second pregnancy (p<.05).

Conclusions: It is suggested that pubertal onset and individual mental health as it relates to measures of aggression should be considered when developing programs targeting young women at highest risk for repeated childbearing. Prevention of rapid repeat pregnancy may provide a more focused approach to intervention, given the lack of evidence for effective prevention of an initial pregnancy in some groups.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of rapid repeat pregnancy as an important public health concern.
• Describe the factors associated with rapid repeat pregnancy among adolescents.
• Discuss the implications for future program development.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No