Evaluation of an integrated services program to prevent subsequent pregnancy and birth among urban teen mothers.
This article details the evaluation of a clinical services program for teen mothers in the District of Columbia. The program's primary objectives are to prevent unintended subsequent pregnancy and to promote contraceptive utilization. We calculated contraceptive utilization at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after delivery, as well as occurrence of subsequent pregnancy and birth. Nearly seven in ten (69.5%) teen mothers used contraception at 24 months after delivery, and 57.1% of contraceptive users elected long-acting reversible contraception. In the 24-month follow-up period, 19.3% experienced at least one subsequent pregnancy and 8.0% experienced a subsequent birth. These results suggest that an integrated clinical services model may contribute to sustained contraceptive use and may prove beneficial in preventing subsequent teen pregnancy and birth.
Center for Adolescent Women, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Loral.Patchen@Medstar.net
Loral
L
Patchen
Kathryn
K
Letourneau
Erica
E
Berggren
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004219:District of Columbia; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007086:Illegitimacy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D016730:Program Development; D012944:Social Support