Adolescencia e epoca de crise, mudanca, readaptacao ao novo corpo e de novas atitudes frente a vida. Se somarmos a isso o significado da gravidez, dos pontos de vista pessoal, social e familiar, compreenderemos como a gestacao pode ser um evento dificil para a adolescente. O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar onde as adolescentes gravidas buscam apoio. Evidenciou-se que as entrevistadas puderam contar com o apoio da familia, principalmente dos pais e, com menos frequencia com o do pai do bebe, bem como a aceitacao da gravidez, sua relacao com o abandono escolar, a visao idealizada dessas garotas acerca da gestacao e expectativas futuras, a preocupacao com aspectos biologicos e a despreocupacao com problemas concretos.

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Adolescentes e grávidas: onde buscam apoio?

Previous research has suggested that attitudes toward premarital sex in the United States did not change much between the 1930s and 1960s, that they became more liberal (permissive) during the 1960s and 1970s, and that they remained fairly stable during the 1980s and 1990s (Glenn and Weaver 1979; Scott 1998; Singh 1980; Smith 1990, 1994; Thornton 1989; Thornton and Young-DeMarco 2001). Although both Scott (1998) and Smith (1990, 1994) argue that changes since 1960 should not be characterized as a "sexual revolution," the changes were quite large by conventional standards. In 1969, more than 75 percent of American adults with an opinion on premarital sex said that it was wrong. By the 1980s only 33-37 percent of American adults said that premarital sex was either "always" or "almost always" wrong. Recent work (notably Scott 1998 and Smith 1994) has considered three possible explanations for changes in sexual attitudes: replacement of more conservative birth cohorts born early in the twentieth century by more liberal cohorts born later in the century (cohort effects), age-related changes in the views of each cohort (age effects), and cultural changes that alter the views of all cohorts simultaneously (period effects). Explanations of this kind pose a well-known identification problem. A respondent's age at the time of a survey is by definition equal to the difference between the survey year and the respondent's year of birth. It follows that age effects can always be expressed as some combination of period and cohort effects, that period effects can always be expressed as some combination of age and cohort effects, and

Changing Attitudes toward Premarital Sex: Cohort, Period, and Aging Effects

This study examines how family communication patterns, cognitive complexity, and interpersonal competence influence certain adolescent risk behaviors. In a college-age sample, socio-orientated family communication pattern significantly predicted lower levels of cognitive complexity, although, cognitive complexity was not significantly associated with self-reports of interpersonal competency. Correlational analyses revealed a significant relation between family communication patterns and perceived interpersonal competence in interpersonal relationships both for same-sex friends and romantic partners. Additionally, multiple regression analyses indicated that concept-orientated family communication patterns significantly predicted whether a young person develops the interpersonal competence necessary for managing interpersonal relationships. Risk behaviors related to drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse were significantly tied to specific dimensions of interpersonal competency. Implications for future r...

Exploring the Influence of Family Communication Patterns, Cognitive Complexity, and Interpersonal Competence on Adolescent Risk Behaviors

Pregnancy in adolescence constitutes the main public health problem for this age group, in some countries. The health problems derived from adolescent pregnancy, birth and neonatal attention depend more on factors of social and environmental risk than on physiological and biological risk factors in adolescence. A descriptive study has been conducted of adolescent and adult mothers in Cadiz, Spain, who attended Family Planning Clinic during 1994. By means of multistage, stratified random sampling, 590 women were selected: 305 adolescent mothers between 15 and 19 years of age, and 285 adult mothers of 20 years and over. Various questionnaires were applied to the women, covering: sociodemographic characteristics; pregnancy and birth; family and social support (Duke-Inc and Apgar family); evolution of the health of the baby; and maternal knowledge of child care. Sociodemographically, significant differences (p > 0.01) were obtained in: marital status (more unmarried among adolescents); living in parents' home; fewer working; abandonment of education. No differences were observed in respect of the number of check-ups received during pregnancy. Adult mothers consumed significantly more toxic substances (tobacco, alcohol and drugs) during pregnancy. No differences were appreciated in respect of the birth, or health of the neonate. In adolescents, there was significantly more breast-feeding (p > 0.01) compared with adult mothers, 61.6% (56–67%) and 34% (28.5–34.5%), respectively. Pregnancy in adolescence appears to constitute a psychosocial problem rather than a biological risk.

Comparing the biological and psychosocial risks of pregnancy between groups of adolescents and adults

The 1st-time effort the Santiago Young Adult Reproductive Health Survey 1988 was used to examine the levels of premarital sexual activity contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy among youth 15-24 years in Santiago Chile and the sociodemography associated with these levels. Questionnaires from the self-weighted probability sample were completed by 865 females and 800 males. Characteristics of respondents were as follows: 18% of the females and 9% of the males were in a union; about 40% had at least a high school education and 11% of females and 14% of males had more than secondary school. 31% of females and 8% of males neither attended school nor worked. 74% of females and 62% of males reported Catholicism as their religion but <50% attended church once a month. 11% of females and 26% of males reported no religion. Sexual experience included 35.4% of females and 65.0% of males having had premarital sexual intercourse of which 19.1% of the females were 15-19 years and 56.5% were 20-24 years and 47.6% of males were 15-19 years and 85.7% were 20-24 years. Female premarital sexual activity is higher than the 10 other Latin American countries with comparable data on female sexual activity but the age of first premarital intercourse is higher than other Latin American countries. Chiles higher development and higher educational levels plus cultural factors may explain the differences. For instance Chilean males do not participate in the Latin American practice of first intercourse with a prostitute. Higher development may also reflect greater sexual freedom for women and 80% reported a steady boyfriend as the first sexual partner. Despite 13.5% of contraceptive use by females under 18 years of age and by 26.1% by 18-24 year olds and 15.2% of males under 18 years of age and 30.1% 18024 years at first premarital intercourse the level of premarital conceptions was 70%. 33% of first births to women 15-24 years were outside of marriage. 50% of women bearing a child before 18 years of age had the first child outside of marriage. Out-of- wedlock childbearing patterns are comparable to findings of Viel and Campos. Low socioeconomic status is more prevalent among those with childbearing outside of marriage. 40% of unintended pregnancies are due to premarital conception. Unintended and premarital pregnancies may be a function of inadequate contraceptive usage and premarital pregnancies may be a function of inadequate contraceptive usage and premarital sexual activity. Less effective methods of contraception are used by this population. It would be appropriate in light of these findings to provide specialized family planning and contraceptive access to the population 15-24 years old.

M Palau

Papers

Pregnancy in adolescence