Pregnancy in adolescence: its factors, peculiarities and reasons from the adolescent?s point of view

Abstract

This paper addresses different aspects of pregnancy in adolescence from the perspective of the teen mothers. It aims to study the adolescent’s level of information with regard to the gestation period, the relationship with her relatives as a possible stressing factor, the beginning of the menstruation period and the possibility of early sexual activity directly interfering in the pregnancy. Furthermore, we compared the life ambitions before and after the pregnancy and indagated if the pregnancy was wanted or not. These variables were studied in a group of twelve pregnant adolescents that attend the Ferraria Health Unit of Campo Largo. The results show that the adolescents didn’t want to become pregnant but ended up accepting their condition. These adolescents grew up in unstable homes with extremely weak bonds among family members, engaged early in sexual activity, had low educational level, and personal ambitions always more difficult to achieve.