187413 Behavior changes before and after child birth in migrant and non migrant adolescent mothers from a US-Mexico border city

Monday, October 27, 2008: 4:45 PM

Ana M. Valles-Medina, MPH , School of Medicine, MPH Program, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana, B.C., México, Mexico
Coyolxauhqui Arriaga-Romero, MPH , Maestria en Salud Publica, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico
Abraham Zonana-Nacach, MD , Unidad de Investigación Clínica y Epidemiológica, Hospital Regional No. 20, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Tijuana, Mexico
Rufino Menchaca-Diaz, MPH, MD , School of Medicine, MPH Program, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana, B.C., México, Mexico
John A. Dominguez, MIP , School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana, B.C., México, Mexico
INTRODUCTION: In Tijuana, Mexico, immigration has determined the population growth model. One segment vulnerable to these changes is adolescents experiencing early maternity. OBJECTIVE: Identify socioeconomic characteristics and behavior changes in migrant and non-migrant adolescent mothers before and after child birth in Tijuana, Mexico. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in two public hospitals. 324 mothers between 12 and 19 years old were interviewed. The first measurement was performed just after child delivery and the second, three months later, where only 147 attended. Those living less than 5 years in Tijuana were classified as migrants, whereas those with more than 5 years were considered non-migrants, bivariate analysis was performed using chi-square and T tests. RESULTS: Of 34% who reported using some contraceptive method before pregnancy only 27% were migrant (p=0.04) and of 23% who reported being students before becoming pregnant, only 14% were migrant (p=0.002) Migrants presented less prenatal control 72% vs 82% of non migrant adolescent mothers (p=0.08). Of 39% of the woman who were working before becoming pregnant, 47% were migrant vs. 36% non-migrant, and three months after child birth 27% of migrants kept working vs. 12% of non-migrants (p=0.02). There were no statistical differences between mean age of initiation of sexual activities (15.5 years SD=1.4 ), number of sexual partners (1.6 SD=1.9) and educational level (7.9years SD=2.1) CONCLUSIONS: The differences encountered suggest disadvantages in the migrant group and a less certain future. There is an urgent need to implement more precise health educational programs in order to respond to this social and health threat.

Learning Objectives:
To analyze characteristics of adolescent mothers in a US-Mexico border city To compare socioeconomic characteristics between migrant and non-migrant adolescent mothers To analyze behavior change before and after child birth in adolescent mothers from a US Mexico border city

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Health Education Strategies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am professor from a graduate program in public health and I worked as a PI in this research work
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.