Initiation of prenatal care by adolescents. Associations with social support, stress, and Hispanic ethnicity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the social factors associated with initiation of prenatal care by adolescents. Eighty-one postpartum adolescents aged 17 years and under were interviewed within 24 hours of delivery about background factors, living situation, experiences, and behaviors during pregnancy. Of the adolescents, 58 were of Hispanic (Mexican) origin; the remainder were non-Hispanic whites. The first prenatal visit occurred at a mean of 4.04 months' gestation for Hispanics and 4.39 months' gestation for the non-Hispanics, one month after the pregnancy test. Differences between the ethnic groups were not significant. Controlling for ethnicity, both age and social support from the partner and his family were associated with initiation of care (P less than .01). In a separate analysis, age and partner-family support were unaffected by the introduction of stress and parental support (P less than .01). These findings highlight the importance of the partner and his family as a source of support to pregnant adolescents. To whom and when the adolescent communicates about the pregnancy may be the key linking social support to initiation of prenatal care. Providers who work with sexually active adolescents should emphasize the importance of early communication with partners and with family members if a pregnancy is suspected.