CONCEPTION AFTER A NEGATIVE PREGNANCY TEST DURING ADOLESCENCE

Study Objective: To determine the prevalence of conception 18-24 month s after a negative pregnancy test during adolescence. Design, Particip ants/Setting: The medical records of 71, 13 through 17-year-olds who r eturned to two urban teen clinics in Denver, Colorado 18-24 months aft er a negative pregnancy test were reviewed. Main Outcome Measure: Urin e pregnancy tests. Results: We found that 48 (67.6%) of the 71 adolesc ents who returned to the clinics during the study period had conceived ; 26 (86.6%) of the 30 adolescents who were given a contraceptive agen t during the index negative pregnancy test visit subsequently conceive d. Data abstracted from the medical records suggested that younger ado lescents, Hispanic adolescents, adolescents who are welfare dependent, adolescents who are not enrolled in school, and adolescents who have been pregnant before are at particularly high risk for conception afte r a negative test. Conclusions: Simply dispensing contraceptives is no t enough to prevent conception during adolescence; young women who fit the high-risk sociodemographic profile we describe should receive in- depth counseling and be targeted for intervention after a negative tes t.