Pubertal Development and Pregnancy Outcomes Among System-Involved Youth

• Published in: Social work in public health Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 825 - 836
• Main Authors: Finigan-Carr, Nadine M., Cance, Jessica Duncan, Steward, Rochon, Johnson, Tonya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 16-11-2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescents; African Americans; Couples; pubertal timing; Reproductive health; Risk factors; Romantic relationships; Sexual behavior; sexual reproductive health; system-involved youth; teen pregnancy; Teenage pregnancy; Youth; system-involved youth; teen pregnancy; Adolescents; sexual reproductive health; pubertal timing
• ISSN: 1937-1918; 1937-190X; 1937-190X
• DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2024.2383690

System-involved youth are a vulnerable population at high-risk of experiencing numerous sexual reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. They are likely to have several risk factors for teen pregnancy and parenting including abuse and neglect histories, lack of a supportive consistent adult in their lives, and limited opportunities to experience normal romantic relationships. Issues of pubertal development are rarely addressed in this population. Data is from system-involved adolescents (n = 301) enrolled in a SRH intervention. The final analysis is restricted to those who were sexually active at baseline (n = 229). Most participants were African Americans between 13-21 years of age. More than 70% reported an early mean age of first sex. Approximately a quarter self-reported early pubertal development. Logistic regression was utilized to examine the odds of pregnancy in relation to self-reported pubertal timing. The findings support the need to develop programming for system-involved youth which address their unique needs.