[Should we change our point of view on pregnancy in adolescence?]

To find the profile of pregnant teenagers in our area and the repercussion of pregnancy on their lives.

A mixed study: descriptive crossover and qualitative.

The Toledo Health Area.

All the adolescent mothers (192) and a control group of 195 mothers over 19, who gave birth in Toledo's Virgen de la Salud Hospital in 1995-96.

Data on pregnancy monitoring, birth and the new-born were taken from the obsteric histories. 30 teenage girls were interviewed face to face to investigate the social, family and personal repercussions of their pregnancies.

3.3% of births in 1995-96 were of teenage mothers. Monitoring of teenage pregnancies was deficient. There were no significant differences between the two groups of women in the incidence of obstetric complications. The general profile of the women interviewed was as follows: they lived in a rural area with their parents. They had received no sexual education. Most of the pregnancies were unwanted, though only two thought of abortion. In general, the emotional link to their partner was reinforced after birth, although they didn't create a life in common. Family and social acceptance was the norm. They didn't modify their life-style. Although they didn't think there were any negative repercussions, they said they were afraid of a new pregnancy and sought to prevent it.

Our study did not find higher obstetric risk in pregnant teenagers. Motherhood does not appear to have too many repercussions on their life-style, although it should be prevented by improved sexual education.