SUBSEQUENT CHILDBEARING AMONG TEENAGE MOTHERS - THE DETERMINANTS OF ACLOSELY SPACED 2ND BIRTH

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth reveal that approx imately one-quarter of teenage mothers have a second child within 24 m onths of their first birth. The prevalence of closely spaced second bi rths is greatest (31%) among young women whose first birth occurred pr ior to age 17. Teenage mothers' characteristics before the first birth (such as race or ethnicity and parents' level of education) and at th e time of the first birth (such as years of schooling completed and wh ether their first birth was wanted) influence whether they have a rapi d second birth. For example, those with more educated parents are less likely than others to have had a closely spaced second birth. In addi tion, young mothers who obtain additional schooling in the period afte r their first birth are less likely to have a closely spaced second bi rth, while those who marry are more likely to have a rapid second birt h.