Family risk factors associated with adolescent pregnancy: Study of a groupof adolescent girls and their families in Ecuador

Purpose: To identify characteristics within the family that were associated with adolescent pregnancy in a group of adolescent girls in Quite, Ecuador . Methods: Of 135 female adolescents (12-19 years of age), 47 were pregnant a nd seen at the adolescent prenatal care clinic at an inner city hospital in Quite, and 88 were students from schools located within the same geographi c area. Family variables were compared for pregnant and nonpregnant adolesc ents using chi-square, Student's t-test, and analysis of variance. Results: More nonpregnant adolescents lived with their biological parents w hen compared with their pregnant peers (p < .002). Pregnant adolescents rep orted lower mother-daughter and father-daughter communication (p < .02), le sser life satisfaction and happiness in general, and more school and econom ic difficulties (p < .001). They were less likely to find support for their problems in or outside the family (p < .0001) and showed higher levels of depression and sexual abuse than their nonpregnant peers (68.8% vs. 34.5%, and 14.9% vs. 4.5% respectively). Nonpregnant adolescents showed higher sch ool performance and expectations regarding school achievement and future pe rspectives (p < .001). Values among nonpregnant adolescents (p < .0001). Pa rental education was lower in the families of pregnant adolescents (p < .05 ). Among nonpregnant adolescents, both parents worked outside the home (y < .006), whereas mothers of pregnant adolescents usually stayed at home. Conclusion: The current study showed that parental separation or divorce, a nd poor parent- daughter communication were associated with adolescent preg nancy. Families of nonpregnant adolescents had a higher educational level, and both parents worked to provide financial support to the family in an en vironment where family authority is shared by both parents. There were also better problem-solving strategies and parent-daughter communication, highe r levels of cohesion, connectedness, and life satisfaction in general, and higher future expectations. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1999.