title: A Social Ecology Analysis of Childbirth Among Females Emancipating From Foster Care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No research has examined childbirth from a national perspective among females emancipating from foster care. The present study fills this gap by: (1) documenting the rates of initial and repeat births among females ages 17 and 19 in a national prospective study and (2) identifying risk and protective factors at age 17 that predict childbirth between ages 17 and 19.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used data from the National Youth in Transition Database and Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System to identify risk and protective factors associated with childbirth in a national sample of transition-age female youth (N = 3,474).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cumulative rate of childbirth by age 19 was 21%, with higher rates reported between ages 17 and 19 (17%; n = 602) compared with age 17 or earlier (9%; n = 313). In logistic regression analysis, black race and Hispanic ethnicity, placement with relatives, runaway status, trial home visit placement, early emancipation from foster care, and lifetime incarceration histories were associated with increased likelihood of childbirth. In contrast, school enrollment and employment skills were associated with decreased likelihood of childbirth. The multivariate odds of childbirth between ages 17 and 19 increased 10-fold if youth already had a child by age 17.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual health and pregnancy prevention programs should specifically target youths who already have children. Increased attention should be paid to adolescents placed with biological families and those with histories of criminal involvement.
authors.affiliation: Robert D. McCormick Center for Child Advocacy and Policy, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey. Electronic address: shpiegels@mail.montclair.edu.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shpiegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cascardi
authors.affiliation: National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect, Cornell University, Ithaca, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dineen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001723:Birth Rate / Q000208:ethnology*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Childbirth; Emancipation; Foster care; Risk factors