title: Spotlight on teenage pregnancy--defining the demographics and the family planning requirements.
abstract: This study aims to provide a demographic analysis of teenage pregnancy and a needs-assessment for teenage family planning. A questionnaire was sent to all teenage mothers delivered in 2000 in Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH), and demographic analysis was performed. There were 118 teenage pregnancies, only 88% were primigravid, and 24% were aged <17 years. The response rate was 43%. The uptake of contraception before pregnancy was 74%, (42% using barrier methods only), and post-partum, the uptake was 98%, (12% barrier methods). The majority of teenagers (72%) prefer to attend the General Practitioner, preferably with an out-of-hours, weekday service. Teenage family planning is an area of need, particularly in the younger teen-years and following a pregnancy. We have shown how this can be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford. hmcmillan@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mc Millan
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires