Community Violence Exposure and Adolescent Pregnancy in Chicago

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Community violence exposure (CVE) is a significant public health concern impacting urban youth.
• Adolescent pregnancy remains a critical issue with long-term socioeconomic consequences.
• Understanding the interplay between violence exposure and sexual risk behaviors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between community violence exposure (CVE), unprotected penile-vaginal intercourse, and adolescent pregnancy in Chicago.
• To identify the independent contribution of CVE to sexual risk and pregnancy among adolescent girls.
• To inform public health strategies aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy in violence-affected communities.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered online survey was conducted among 644 adolescent girls (15-19 years) in Chicago.
• Validated index used to measure individual experiences with community violence.
• Multivariable and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• High levels of CVE were reported; 62.87% experienced a friend/relative's death due to violence, 41.60% were victims of violence.
• Nearly half (48.69%) engaged in penile-vaginal intercourse, and 6.01% had been pregnant.
• Each standard deviation increase in CVE score significantly increased odds of unprotected intercourse (OR=1.69) and pregnancy (OR=1.87).

Conclusions:

• Higher community violence exposure is independently associated with increased odds of unprotected sexual activity and pregnancy among adolescent girls in Chicago.
• Findings highlight the need for integrated approaches addressing both violence prevention and sexual health promotion for at-risk youth.
• Interventions should consider the pervasive impact of community violence on adolescent reproductive health outcomes.