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Repeat pregnancy in adolescence: intentions and decision making
1School of Nursing, University of Delaware, Newark, USA. jherrman@udel.edu
MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|March 16, 2007
Summary
Young mothers often have unintended repeat pregnancies because their sexual activity is spontaneous and unplanned. Interventions should consider these factors to prevent future unintended pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Adolescent Health
- Sociology of Reproduction
Background:
- Repeat pregnancies among young mothers pose significant public health challenges.
- Understanding the decision-making processes related to sexual activity and contraception is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore young mothers' perceptions of repeat pregnancy intentions.
- To understand shared meanings of intentionality in sexual activity and birth control use among young mothers.
Main Methods:
- An ethnographic, descriptive study utilizing interviews with a purposive sample of young mothers experiencing repeat pregnancies.
- Data analysis involved iterative methods, recursive data sifting, and specialized software (Ethnograph 5.0).
Main Results:
- All participants reported their repeat pregnancies were unintended.
- Decision-making regarding sexual activity varied, with some reporting rational processes and others impulsive behavior.
- A significant finding was that mothers often did not intend to prevent pregnancy, even if they did not intend to conceive, citing coercion, pressure, or lack of agency.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent sexual activity is frequently spontaneous, unplanned, and sometimes involuntary.
- Interventions aimed at preventing repeat pregnancies must acknowledge the nature of adolescent sexual decision-making.
- Incorporating young mothers' perspectives, intentions, and thought processes is vital for designing effective prevention programs and policies.
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