Sexual abuse, adolescent pregnancy, and child abuse. A developmental approach to an intergenerational cycle
C. Stevens-Simon and S. Reichert
Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Children's Hospital, Denver.
OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and
adolescent pregnancy. DATA SOURCE: Articles published in English during the
past two decades and pertaining to the sequelae of childhood sexual abuse
or the antecedents of adolescent pregnancy. STUDY SELECTION: Studies that
did not contain data pertinent to the relationship between childhood sexual
abuse and adolescent pregnancy were excluded. RESULTS: Studies suggest that
former victims of childhood sexual abuse may be at increased risk for
conception during adolescence and that adolescent pregnancies that are
antedated by childhood sexual abuse are often only one manifestation of
socially deviant behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Experiences associated with
childhood sexual abuse may affect the incidence and the outcome of
adolescent childbearing. Identification and treatment of previously abused
adolescent prenatal patients may break this vicious intergenerational cycle
of violence.
