183906 Factors influencing African-American adolescent females' acceptability of pregnancy

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Colleen P. Crittenden Murray, DrPH , Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Jessica Sales, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Teaniese P. Latham, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Erin Bradley, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Eve S. Rose, MSPH , Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Background: While literature supports that most adolescent pregnancies are reported as unplanned, less is known regarding factors associated with an adolescent's acceptance or rejection of pregnancy once it occurs. This study investigates the relationship between individual and social factors thought to influence pregnancy acceptability among African-American adolescent females.

Methods: Sociodemographic, psychosocial, and sexual behavior data were collected from 170 newly pregnant African-American females (age 14-20). Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate differences between adolescents who reported wanting to be pregnant at the time of assessment and those who did not. Variables included current relationship, current partner desire for pregnancy, current level of love toward partner, previous live births, and school involvement.

Results: Analysis revealed significant relationships between pregnant adolescents who wanted to be pregnant and being in love with their current partner (p=.05), having a partner who they perceived wanted them to be pregnant (p<.001), and having ever dropped out or been expelled from school (p=.05). Previous live birth was related to adolescents not wanting to be pregnant (p<.01). Further, having a partner who participants perceived as wanting to get them pregnant (p<.01) and previous live birth (p<.01) remained significant predictors of pregnancy acceptance in logistic regression.

Conclusions: Results suggest previous live birth is related to lack of current pregnancy acceptance among this sample. Such relationship could prove valuable when developing interventions that promote pregnancy spacing. Further investigation is needed to explore the relationship between partner influences and adolescents' acceptance of pregnancy.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify factors that may influence acceptability of pregnancy among pregnant African-American adolescents. 2. Explore the perceived influence of a current male partner or boyfriend following an unplanned pregnancy.

Keywords: African American, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold a doctorate degree specializing in maternal and child health. Further, I am currently doing a postdoctoral fellowship that focuses on adolescent health, primarily in African-American populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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