Integral care for pregnant adolescents: impact on offspring

To assess the impact of integral support on the health of children of adolescent mothers and their children.

A prospective study involving 50 adolescent mothers, who had frequent meetings with a multi-professional group throughout pregnancy. After birth, medical followup was provided to mother and child.

Mean schooling proved higher than the national average. After follow-up, the rate of return to education was 24%. These adolescents had good social network support from both family and father of the child. They considered themselves good mothers and felt happier after maternity experience. Adolescents demonstrated a responsible sex life involving family planning and correct use of contraception, yielding extremely low levels of repeat pregnancy. Of the mothers, 48% were employed, working, earning a mean monthly salary of 150% minimum wage. The children of mothers followed by were breastfed longer and had greater vaccination cover than the average for São Paulo State.

The results suggest that our program promotes education of adolescents and their children; demonstrates the importance of a social support network through the family of the young mother and father of the child; fosters positive maternal social model addressing self-esteem and responsibility; informs mothers on contraception and encourages a responsible sex life, baby care, vaccination, and maternal breastfeeding.