THE IMPLICATIONS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOOD FOR PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE - UNRESOLVED ISSUES

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood have implications for several differe nt aspects of primary health care. First, the provision of health educ ation and contraceptive services is obviously relevant to the preventi on of unplanned teenage pregnancy. Secondly, appropriate obstetric car e should be provided for teenagers, who are at high risk of developing complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Thirdly and perhaps even m ore significantly, there is the implication of care required to deal w ith longer-term adverse health con sequences associated with teenage p regnancy. In each of these areas, certain issues remain unresolved. Th is paper identifies key questions that remain unanswered, including th e possibility of long-term adverse physical and psychological health c onsequences for teenage mothers and their children. The conclusion is that further research addressing these unresolved issues is necessary in order to inform health professionals and allow the implications for primary care to be assessed.