Durations of adolescent sexual relationships before and after conception.
OBJECTIVE
To explore durations of young couples' relationships between meeting and first intercourse, before first conception and for two years following conception and the associations between these durations; to describe the association between these durations and the young women's perceptions of the nature of these relationships.


METHODS
Three hundred and seven adolescent women were enrolled in a prospective study while presenting for pregnancy tests (the index event); they were followed for two years in three groups--those with negative tests, those who terminated the pregnancy and those who bore a child. Retrospective information about durations of relationships with first partners and partners at the index event was obtained at baseline; follow-up data was obtained on continuing relationships with the index partner.


RESULTS
Durations of relationships between adolescent females and their partners in this sample, both before and after conception, are rarely brief; the median duration of a girl's prior relationship with a partner with whom she conceives is almost two years. Similarly, almost half of the sample is still in a relationship at two years following the index event, a proportion that rises to two-thirds among those who bore a child together.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to common belief or practice, there may be sufficient time and commitment to include many male partners in intervention programs before, and in parenting programs after, a first conception--a practice which could have positive implications for both adolescent partners and, potentially, for their child.
Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
V
V
Toledo-Dreves
L S
LS
Zabin
M R
MR
Emerson
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors