Socioeconomic well-being in early adulthood among repeat versus one-time teenage mothers.

Teenage mothers are known to be at elevated risk for poor socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. However, little is known about the socioeconomic outcomes of mothers who bear multiple children during the teenage years (repeat teenage mothers) compared to one-time teenage mothers. This study examines socioeconomic outcomes in the mid- to late 20s of repeat teenage mothers compared to one-time teenage mothers in a national U.S. sample. Repeat teenage mothers were less likely to graduate high school and more likely to receive public assistance and experience material hardship than one-time teenage mothers in their mid- to late- 20s. Lower educational attainment plus the responsibility of caring for multiple children as a young mother may make it difficult for repeat teenage mothers to secure economic stability. Additional supports may be necessary to improve long-term socioeconomic outcomes of repeat teenage mothers.

Health Behaviors and Prenatal Health Conditions in Repeat Vs First-time Teenage Mothers in the United States: 2015-2018.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Repeat teenage mothers, those who give birth to a second or higher-order infant before age 20 years, are at elevated risk for adverse perinatal outcomes compared with first-time teenage mothers. The objective of the current study was to compare the prevalence of negative pregnancy-related behaviors and gestational health conditions in the national United States population of first-time and repeat teenage mothers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study using annual US birth data files from 2015 to 2018, N = 799,756 (673,394 [84.2%] first, 126,362 [15.8%] repeat) births to women ages 15-19 years. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy-related behaviors (including adequacy of prenatal care and weight gain, sexually transmitted infection, smoking, and breastfeeding) and gestational health conditions (gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes). RESULTS: Repeat (vs first-time) mothers had higher prevalence of negative pregnancy-related behaviors: inadequate prenatal care, smoking, inadequate weight gain, and sexually transmitted infection during pregnancy; they were also less likely to breastfeed. Conversely, repeat teenage mothers experienced lower prevalence of gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. CONCLUSION: Repeat teenage mothers experienced lower prevalence of physical health complications during pregnancy but engaged in more negative pregnancy-related health behaviors. Negative health behavior in pregnancy can lead directly to poor perinatal outcomes for infants. To prevent adverse outcomes from repeat teenage childbearing, we must ensure access to quality, timely, prenatal and postpartum care so teenage mothers can receive support for healthy pregnancy-related behaviors as well as linkage to highly effective contraception to prevent unintended repeat births.

County-Level Clustering and Characteristics of Repeat Versus First Teen Births in the United States, 2015-2017.

PURPOSE: Approximately 16% of U.S. births to women aged 15-19 years are repeat (second or higher order) births. Repeat teen mothers are at elevated risk for poor perinatal outcomes. Geographic clustering and correlates of repeat teen birth are unknown. METHODS: Data from birth certificates on N = 629,939 teen births in N = 3,108 U.S. counties in 2015-2017 were merged with data on county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and health provider characteristics. We identified contiguous clusters of counties with significantly elevated rates of first teen births only, repeat teen births, both, or neither between 2015 and 2017 and compared demographic, socioeconomic, and medical provider characteristics of counties between 2010 and 2016 in each cluster type. RESULTS: A total of 193 counties (6.21%) had high rates of repeat births only; 504 (16.22%) had high rates of first teen birth only; 991 (31.89%) had high rates of both repeat and first teen births; and 1,420 (45.69%) had neither. Counties with high repeat (vs. first only) birth rates had higher rates of poverty and unemployment, higher levels of income inequality, lower high school graduation rates, a higher share of racial and ethnic minority residents, fewer publicly funded family planning clinics per capita, and more women receiving contraceptive services at publicly funded clinics. CONCLUSIONS: First and repeat teen births cluster in differentially resourced geographic areas. Counties with high repeat teen birth rates have lower socioeconomic conditions than counties with high rates of first teen births only. These counties are more reliant on publicly funded family planning clinics but have fewer of them per capita.