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Pubertal development and pregnancy outcomes among system-involved youth
Finigan-Carr, N. M., Cance, J. D., Steward, R., & Johnson, T. (2024). Pubertal development and pregnancy outcomes among system-involved youth. Social Work in Public Health, 39(8), 825-836. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2024.2383690
System-involved youth are a vulnerable population at high-risk of experiencing numerous sexual reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. They are likely to have several risk factors for teen pregnancy and parenting including abuse and neglect histories, lack of a supportive consistent adult in their lives, and limited opportunities to experience normal romantic relationships. Issues of pubertal development are rarely addressed in this population. Data is from system-involved adolescents (n = 301) enrolled in a SRH intervention. The final analysis is restricted to those who were sexually active at baseline (n = 229). Most participants were African Americans between 13-21 years of age. More than 70% reported an early mean age of first sex. Approximately a quarter self-reported early pubertal development. Logistic regression was utilized to examine the odds of pregnancy in relation to self-reported pubertal timing. The findings support the need to develop programming for system-involved youth which address their unique needs.
