title: A comparative study of plans for infant care made by adolescent and adult mothers.
abstract: This study evaluated the choices of primiparous adolescent and adult mothers about whom they believe will care for their infant after they go home from the hospital. The responses of 70 younger adolescents (age 14-17 years) and 37 older adolescents (age 18-19 years) were compared with 80 adult (age 20-25 years) primiparas regarding their plans for school or work, type of child care arrangements planned, and the father's anticipated involvement in the care of the baby. There were no statistical differences among our three age groups. The results show that first-time mothers in all three age groups more often expect themselves to be the primary care giver for their infant, all age groups expected their mother to help most when they lived with her, and about three quarters of each age group expect the husband/baby's father to help in some way.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bagge
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Norr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D015406:Single Parent