Objective: To prospectively identify psychosocial predictors of pregnancy desire among low-income African-American adolescent females. Methods: African-American females 14-18 years of age were recruited from schools and health clinics. Adolescents completed an in-depth survey at baseline and again 6 months later. The study achieved an 85.7% baseline participation rate (N=522) and 92% (N=482) returned at follow-up. Only adolescents testing negative for pregnancy, by urine assay, and having steady boyfriends were included in the analysis. Adolescents completed baseline assessments of their pregnancy desire and a measure of control over life events. At follow-up, adolescents again testing negative for pregnancy indicated their level of pregnancy desire and their steady partner's level of desire. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for predictors of the females' pregnancy desire at follow-up. Results: Adolescents' baseline level of pregnancy desire was an important predictor of their pregnancy desire at follow-up (AOR=9.16, P=.0001). However, the most important predictor was the current sex partners' level of desire for conception (AOR=10.52, P=.0001). Those indicating low perceived control over life events were about 2.5 times more likely to report at least some desire for pregnancy at follow-up (AOR=2.45, P=.03). Length of time in the relationship and age of the current sex partner were not significant factors in the analysis. Discussion: The findings suggest that pregnancy desire among non-pregnant adolescent females is strongly influenced by their current boyfriends' desire to conceive and past personal desire for pregnancy. Pregnancy prevention programs may benefit from redressing these desires.
Learning Objectives: 1. Audience members will be able to identify the relative contribution of personal and male partner desire for pregnancy to the longitudinal prediction of becoming pregnant. 2. Audience members will be able to apply these findings to the design of pregnancy prevention programs that include males as well as their female adolescent sex partners.
Keywords: Adolescents, Pregnancy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.