Related Experiment Videos
Alcohol use and adolescent pregnancy
1Fond du Lac Human Services, Min No Aya Win Clinic, Cloquet, MN 55720, USA. rhendren@cpinternet.com
MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|May 16, 2000
Summary
Adolescent alcohol use and early sexual activity increase risks for pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Nurses can implement primary prevention strategies to help prevent FAS in communities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Medicine
- Obstetrics
Background:
- High rates of heavy episodic alcohol consumption among adolescents.
- Significant percentage of adolescents are sexually active early without contraception.
- Combined risks for adolescent pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the risks associated with adolescent alcohol use and early sexual activity.
- To emphasize the preventability of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
- To propose primary prevention strategies for nurses to address FAS.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing reports on adolescent behaviors.
- Identification of risks linking alcohol consumption, sexual activity, and pregnancy.
- Outline of primary prevention strategies for healthcare professionals.
Main Results:
- 33.4% of adolescents report heavy episodic alcohol consumption.
- 34.8% of adolescents are sexually active by age 15 without contraception.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a preventable outcome of alcohol use during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent alcohol use and early sexual activity pose significant public health risks.
- Nurses play a crucial role in primary prevention of FAS.
- Community-based strategies are essential for preventing FAS.