The effect of childhood sexual abuse on adolescent pregnancy: an integrative research review.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to describe the current research literature on the relationship of childhood sexual abuse and adolescent pregnancy and highlight the potential cross-cutting risk factors.


METHODS
Thirteen articles were identified as the basis of this review using Cooper's methodology (1998) for synthesizing research. Articles were categorized according to the levels of evidence proposed by Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2005).


RESULTS
The majority of the studies identified a relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adolescent pregnancy (n=9). Cross-cutting risk factors included female gender, younger age, substance use/abuse, family constellation, parent-child conflict, and mother disengagement.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies for nurses to identify pregnant and parenting adolescents who have been sexually victimized are important for early intervention. Resiliency factors of young people who report positive outcomes are highlighted.
Francisco
Melissa A
MA
Medical Oncology Unit, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.
Hicks
Kasey
K
Powell
Julianne
J
Styles
Kristin
K
Tabor
Jessica L
JL
Hulton
Linda J
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015399:Nursing Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D017741:Survivors