| A retrospective, qualitative study was conducted to explore the experience of pregnancy and childbearing in adolescents from a low-income, minority, urban background. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 participants who had a child during the adolescent phase of development. Thematic analysis of the transcribed interview data yielded nine thematic categories: unintended, but intended pregnancy, pregnancy as organizing function, the influence of the relationship with the mother, deprivation and loss, presence of an older, childbearing sister, early cigarette smoking, a history of sexual abuse, a history of substance abuse, and conduct disorder. The results of this study point to adolescent pregnancy as a multi-faceted event that needs to be examined and understood on the individual, social and cultural levels. |
