How Can Unintended Pregnancies Be Prevented among Adolescents Who Engaged in Sexual Intercourse at Earlier Ages? The Role of Female Education and Partner Age Difference

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15473003
AutoresRaquel Pires (0000-0002-4674-0245, University of Coimbra, autor de correspondencia), Anabela Araújo-Pedrosa (0000-0002-1141-6015, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), Joana Pereira (0000-0001-7790-0830, University of Coimbra), Maria C Canavarro (0000-0002-5083-7322, University of Coimbra)
Año2021
Volumen18
Número20
Páginas10631-10631
Fecha de publicación2021-10-11
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph182010631
PMID34682377
OpenAlexW3205916833
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas37

Several studies have identified explicative factors for adolescents' sexual risk behaviors and related outcomes such as unintended pregnancy; however, less is known about the mechanisms through which such factors act. Our study explored the role of female education and partner age difference as explicative mechanisms of the association between age at first sexual intercourse (AFSI) and unintended pregnancy while controlling for the role of other contextual factors (i.e., socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and place of residence) and sexual-related mechanisms (i.e., number of sexual partners) that are known to be associated with adolescent pregnancy. The sample consisted of 613 sexually experienced female adolescents who did not intend to become pregnant: 349 were pregnant for the first time, and 264 had never been pregnant. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed. An earlier AFSI was associated with unintended pregnancy 1-6 years after first sexual intercourse by increasing the adolescents' likelihood of having less education and being involved with partners older than themselves. There was no significant direct effect of AFSI on pregnancy occurrence after controlling for the mediators. Our findings bring to light nonsexual mechanisms that must be considered in public health interventions aimed at preventing unintended pregnancies among adolescents who engaged in sexual intercourse at early ages. Specific implications are discussed

Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Family planning · Obstetrics · Population · Research methodology · Sex education · Sexual intercourse · Unintended pregnancy · Young adult · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues