Interviewed social workers in Nigeria and 127 patients suffering from childbirth injuries of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), debilitating and chronic condition whereby woman leaks urine uncontrollably and experiences grave social consequences. Crisis intervention, social rehabilitation, fighting stigma, and discharge planning similar to American…

Assessed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk status of pregnant Hispanic adolescents in New York City. One-third of 87 adolescents were identified as being at increased risk for HIV infection. Sexual risk-taking behavior was most common factor that increased HIV risk. Birthplace and nationality were significantly associated with HIV risk…

Notes that assertion of autonomy helps predict teenager's attitude toward pregnancy and parenthood and that ability to predict future relationship with infant has direct implications for achievement of adaptive outcome. Contends that interpersonal outcome of parent-infant relationship may be predicted by adolescent's behaviors with infant. The…

Studied the individual and social connections between teenage and adult sexual outcomes over time, by race and locale, and by individual liaison using data from 28 counties in California. Results show that teenagers display behaviors virtually identical to those of adults of the same backgrounds and socioeconomic status. Implications for…

Examines the contribution of developmental and psychosocial factors to the number of teen pregnancies for which young Latino men have been responsible. Results indicated that men's involvement in teen pregnancy was mediated not only by sexual activity, but that it was also affected by developmental factors, gender-related attitudes, and…

Research determined females with unwanted sexual experiences were likely to be victims of violence, to have run away, to be substance abusers, and have family members with drug/alcohol problems. Four factors explained 39% of variance in age of first pregnancy: family member with drinking problem, age first hit by family member, age first got…

Examines family-of-origin stress, age of first menarche, and the perceptions of pregnancy as a life event in 97 pregnant adolescents. Participants' reported high levels of family stress with only a moderate level of impact or stress attributed to the pregnancy. As a group, the girls' first menarche matched national averages. (RJM)

Examines narratives and novels written for young adults that deal with teenage pregnancy and parenting. Discusses eight common messages found in 17 such short stories and books, and notes three areas of significant silence. (SR)

Survey responses from 48 perinatal nurses found that most learned about medical devices by reading manuals; 75% had received inservice training; and 95% learned from other staff. Inadequate knowledge was related to fear of causing patient harm. Initial learning method influenced what was learned, and hands-on experience was considered efficacious.…

Demonstrates empirically a structural equation modeling technique for group comparison of reliability and validity. Data, which are from a study of 495 mothers' attitudes toward pregnancy, have a one-factor measurement model and three sets of subpopulation comparisons. (SLD)

Examined selected predictor variables from baseline 1988 wave of data, taken from the National Education Longitudinal Study, in relation to pregnancy status. Results indicated statistically significant difference in locus of control between those females who became pregnant later in adolescence (external) and those who did not (internal).…

Public schools must provide an appropriate education for students with complex health needs. Chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes, social morbidities, injuries, and conditions that limit learning such as poor vision commonly affect school-aged children. School nurses often assume a leadership role in providing services for these children.…

This study examines trajectories and correlates of emotional distress symptoms in pregnant adolescents (n = 203) and nulliparous adolescents (n = 188) from economically disadvantaged communities over an 18-month period. For both groups, the prevalence of significant emotional distress exceeded expectation based on adolescent norms; however, the…

This study examined the relationship between moderate-level prenatal alcohol exposure, prenatal stress, and postnatal response to a challenging event in 6-month-old rhesus monkeys. Forty-one rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) infants were exposed prenatally to moderate level alcohol, maternal stress, or both. Offspring plasma cortisol and…

We analyze the relationship between prenatal WIC participation and birth outcomes in New York City from 1988 - 2001. The analysis is unique for several reasons. First, we have over 800,000 births to women on Medicaid, the largest sample ever used to analyze prenatal participation in WIC. Second, we focus on measures of fetal growth distinct from…