Physical Abuse, Social Support, Self-Care, and Pregnancy Outcomes of Older Adolescents

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationships between physical abuse, social support, self-care agency and practices, and pregnancy outcome for older adolescent mothers and infants. DesignPredictive-correlational design based on Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing and featuring a prospective cohort analysis. Prenatal interviews and medical record review after delivery were both used as data sources. Setting:Public prenatal clinics. Participants:Pregnant adolescents who were at least 18 years of age at the time of the prenatal interview and no more than 19 years of age at conception. Complete data were available for 139 participants. Main Outcome Measures:Infant birth weight, pregnancy complications. Results:Twenty-two percent (n=30) of the adolescents in this sample reported that they experienced physical abuse during their pregnancy. Abused pregnant adolescents gave birth to infants with significantly lower birth weights (M=3,144g) than did adolescent mothers who were not abused (M=3,310g) (t=1.99; p=.025). The interaction effect of abuse and the social support factors of shelter and family help, self-care agency, household size, and prenatal care were significant predictors of infant birth weight. Abused adolescents had significantly more previous miscarriages, substance use, and triage visits during their pregnancies. Conclusions:Identification of abused adolescents and their social resources during pregnancy may enhance prediction of infants at high risk and provide opportunities for intervention.