title: Black adolescent mothers' perspectives on sex and parenting in nonmarital relationships with the biological fathers of their children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand single Black adolescent mothers' perspectives on the sexual and parenting-related aspects of their relationships with the biological fathers of their children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a qualitative description of perspectives from a convenience sample of Black single (nonmarried) adolescent mothers. Data were generated through focus groups and interviews. Participants were recruited using self-referral and health provider referrals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in a county public health department sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Rochester, New York.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single mothers (N = 31) ages 15 to 19 participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 17.5 years (SD = 1.4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes were identified that reflected the major characteristics of the relationships between the mothers and the biological fathers of their children: (a) You will always care about your "baby daddy" because of your child, (b) Negative behavior is tolerated to keep the family together, (c) The "baby daddy" can get sex as long as we are not on bad terms, and (d) He will always be part of our lives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Black adolescent mothers have complex relationships with the biological fathers of their children that may include ongoing sexual activity. The intersection of coparenting and sexual health needs among adolescent mothers highlights the importance of integrating sexually transmitted infections prevention with perinatal health programs. It is important to consider this unique coparenting relationship when providing risk-reduction counseling to young mothers.
authors: assistant professor in the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto and in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.. Electronic address: laron.nelson@utoronto.ca.
authors: LaRon E
authors: LE
authors: Nelson
authors: dean and a professor in the College of Nursing, University of South Florida (USF), and senior associate vice president of USF Health, Tampa, FL.
authors: Dianne
authors: D
authors: Morrison-Beedy
authors: Independence Foundation Professor, vice provost, and dean of graduate studies, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors: Margaret H
authors: MH
authors: Kearney
authors: associate professor in the Department of Community & Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Dozier
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010333:Paternal Deprivation / Q000208:ethnology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult