title: Pregnancy intentions among expectant adolescent couples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the self-reported pregnancy intentions of the male partners of expectant adolescent mothers, the accuracy of adolescent mothers' perceptions of their partner's pregnancy intentions, and the concordance between young mothers' and fathers' pregnancy intentions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional pilot study collected interview data from expectant adolescent mothers and their male partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in participants' homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  35 expectant couples were interviewed separately. Most participants were African American (89% of mothers, 74% of fathers). 69% of mothers were 17-18 years old, and half of the fathers were ≥19.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents responded to survey questions adapted from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  44% of fathers reported wanting their partner to get pregnant. Another 15% were ambivalent. A kappa statistic of 0.12 (P = .33) indicated very little "accuracy" of mothers' perceptions of their partners' pregnancy intentions. Further, there was low concordance between the pregnancy intentions of mothers and fathers. Young fathers who wanted or were ambivalent about pregnancy were significantly more likely to use no contraception or withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For a notable number of minority couples, adolescent mothers do not have an accurate perception of their partners' pregnancy intentions and use contraceptive methods that are not within their control. These findings indicate that teen pregnancy prevention interventions must target young males in addition to females and sexually active adolescents should be encouraged to discuss pregnancy intentions with each other.
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Science, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC. Electronic address: alewin@childrensnational.org.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Science, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Goldberg Center for Community Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodgkinson
authors.affiliation: Goldberg Center for Community Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: Goldberg Center for Community Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Lee S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Beers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D057566:Self Report; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent pregnancy; Contraceptive use; Pregnancy intentions