Abstract

PIP: 41 women under 17 presenting with pregnancy at 2 Sheffield hospitals were interviewed between December 1976-77. 78% had experienced intercourse by age 15. 7 had more than 1 partner. 21 were pregnant by age 15. 50% came from large families, 4 or more children. There was a family history of illegitimacy in 1/3 of the group. 46% had experienced separation from 1 or both parents before age 7, chronic illness, death or divorce of parents. Only 8 had received contraceptive advice; 7 had received no school sex education. Most sources of information were mothers, siblings, and friends. 70% knew of at least 3 methods of contraception: withdrawal, the sheath, and the pill. The chemist and the general practitioner were most frequently named sources. 3 had gone to a clinic; most could not identify any clinics. 18 felt contraception should be their own decision; 15 felt it should be a joint decision. The high level of accepted risk taking and nonacceptability of the source of information were the most common reasons for noncontraceptive use. Adolescent pregnancies occur more frequently in lower socioeconomic classes. The majority of the women who continued with the pregnancy (15) were older and presented after 14 weeks.