Adolescent pregnancy: Biobehavioral determinants of outcome

Research on adolescent pregnancy point out methodologic difficulties and identify questions that remain unanswered, and what is known about biologic soical and behavioral factors that mediate or modify medical and social risks is addressed.

Abstract

Childbearing and child-rearing by adolescents are associated with suboptimal health and development for both mother and infant. The author summarize research on pregnancy point out methodologic difficulties and identify questions that remain unanswered. The authors use the term adolescent to refer to persons aged 13 through 19 years; if the reference age group is different it is stated. The central issue is whether there are intrinsic biologic and development factors during adolescence that produce poor outcome for mother and child or whether pregnancy during adolescence is a marker for social disadvantage that independently predicts such outcome. Current controversy is focused on whether the youngest mothers (age or = 15 years) and their infants are at greater medical and social risk than older adolescents or adults and their infants. The authors address what is known about biologic soical and behavioral factors that mediate or modify medical and social risks. (authors)