Addressing the health needs of at risk youth: Reducing rapid repeat pregnancies in adolescent mothers

statement of the problem: Despite the recent decline in first birth rates in adolescents, rapid repeat pregnancy rates have remained high nationally (17%) among adolescent mothers. In a Midwestern school linked health center the repeat pregnancy rate among adolescent mothers increased from 11% in 2012-2013 to 19% in 2014, accounting for a 42% increase in repeat pregnancies.

approach: A population assessment was conducted Fall 2014 at the health center to gain insights from the adolescents mothers and to gather data to tailor an intervention focused on decreasing rapid repeat pregnancies. Data were gathered via adolescent mother interviews, key informant interviews, chart reviews and literature. Data were synthesized to identify risks related to repeat pregnancy.

outcome:  Common factors identified as contributors to adolescent mothers’ rapid repeat pregnancy were: intention, ambivalence, intimate partner, normative peer, culture and social behavior, and no use or misuse of contraception. Factors were prioritized with key stakeholders, with intention of rapid repeat pregnancy in adolescent mothers as focus for an intervention. The presentation will describe how these results were used to tailor the intervention to decrease rapid repeat pregnancy.

implication: To better address rapid repeat pregnancy in adolescent mothers it is useful to acknowledge that some adolescent mothers intend to have repeat pregnancies. This finding will be used to develop an appropriate and effective prevention strategy tailored to adolescent mothers, which may be useful to other health centers serving this at risk population.