Health risk behaviors among pregnant adolescents with older partners
V. I. Rickert, C. M. Wiemann and A. B. Berenson
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if pregnant adolescents with older (> or = 5
years) adult (> or = 20 years) vs same-age (+/- 2 years) male partners
are at increased health risk. DESIGN: Medical charts of pregnant
adolescents who participated in a structured interview as part of their
prenatal care were reviewed. SETTING: Outpatient maternal and child health
clinic at a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 503 white,
African American, and Mexican American adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years,
who initiated prenatal care between January 19, 1992, and December 19,
1994, were consecutively sampled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We hypothesized
that female adolescents paired with older-adult vs same-age partners would
be more likely to report recent substance use, high-risk sexual behaviors,
and partner-directed violence. RESULTS: Of the sample, 26% (n = 129) had an
older adult partner, whereas 44% (n = 222) had a same-age partner. The
remaining adolescents who did not fit either definition (n = 152) were
excluded from further analysis. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated
that girls with older-adult partners were more likely to have initiated
sexual intercourse before 13 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1), have
discontinued school (OR = 2.8), have used marijuana in the past 30 days (OR
= 2.9), be married or living with their partner (OR = 3.2), and desire
their current pregnancy (OR = 2.1). These young women also were more likely
to report that their partner was employed (OR = 2.8), had other children
(OR = 7.4), and used alcohol during the week (OR = 2.0). No association
between tobacco use or partner-directed violence and partner age was
observed. CONCLUSION: Pregnant adolescents with older-adult male partners
report risk behaviors that may affect their health and that of their unborn
child but are not more likely to experience partner-directed violence.
