Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
12.5K
Early Childbirth Among Foster Youth: A Latent Class Analysis to Determine Subgroups at Increased Risk
Bryn King1,2,3, Andrea Lane Eastman2, Claudette Grinnell-Davis4
1Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto.
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
|December 6, 2019
Summary
Adolescents in foster care face higher risks of early childbirth. Identifying specific subgroups based on entry age and placement instability can help target interventions for vulnerable youth.
Area of Science:
- Child Welfare Research
- Adolescent Reproductive Health
- Sociology of the Family
Background:
- Elevated rates of early childbirth are documented among adolescents with foster care experience.
- Understanding the characteristics of vulnerable youth and their time in care is crucial for developing targeted support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct subgroups of female adolescents in foster care based on their entry into care and placement stability.
- To assess the relationship between these subgroups and the probability of early childbirth.
Main Methods:
- Probabilistically linked California birth and child welfare records (1999-2010).
- Utilized latent class analysis to identify subgroups based on age at entry, length of stay, and placement instability.
- Assessed the probability of first childbirth as a distal outcome for each identified class.
Main Results:
- Four distinct classes of foster youth were identified: Later Entry/High Instability (20%), Later Entry/Low Instability (43%), Earlier Entry/High Instability (12%), and Earlier Entry/Low Instability (25%).
- The probability of first childbirth varied significantly across classes, ranging from 15% to 31%.
- High rates of reentry into care were observed in two groups, with over 40% experiencing multiple placements.
Conclusions:
- Specific subgroups of female foster youth are at increased risk for early childbirth.
- Early intervention, enhanced support, and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare are vital for these vulnerable populations.
- Tailored support based on identified risk factors can improve outcomes for adolescents in foster care.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Longitudinal Studies
429
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
429
01:28Conduct Disorder
425
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
425
02:20Longitudinal Research
13.0K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.0K
01:29Close Relationships and Culture
206
Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...
206
01:12Relative Risk
1.7K
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
1.7K
01:25Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
325
Confounding is a critical issue in epidemiological studies, often leading to misleading conclusions about associations between exposures and outcomes. It occurs when the relationship between the exposure and the outcome is mixed with the effects of other factors that influence the outcome. Given that, addressing confounding is of high importance for drawing accurate inferences in research.
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
325