Estimates impact of liberalization of New York State abortion law in 1970 on adolescent childbearing in New York City. Analyzes monthly data on number of births to White and Black adolescents from 1963-87. Findings indicate that level of births to Black adolescents fell 18.7 percent and births to White adolescents fell 14.1 percent after the law…

Interviewed delayed (N=32) and younger (N=32) childbearers and their spouses during the last trimester of pregnancy and at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Found groups to differ in demographic characteristics, but found no differences between delayed and younger childbearers, either initially or developmentally, in marital adjustment, self-esteem,…

Examines medical literature describing relationship between maternal age and pregnancy outcomes. Describes literature exploring links between heightened emotionality during pregnancy and negative outcomes, suggesting that fear-induced stress during pregnancy may place certain middle-aged women at higher risk for complications. Proposes strategies…

No differences in goal orientation or locus of control were apparent among 151 New Mexico adolescents: 37 long-term GRADS (Graduation, Reality, and Dual Role Skills) participants, 46 new to GRADS, and 68 controls. Pregnant and nonpregnant girls differed in their ranking of most important goals. (SK)

Qualitative study of 27 couples who experienced pregnancy loss and infant death explored emotional support that spouses give to partners. In most couples, support was described by both couples as mutual. Among all who provided mutual support, most perceived fairly even exchange. Couples who provided little support to each other were helped by peer…

Assessed short-term consequences of parenting versus placing for adoption among 527 young, unmarried, pregnant women interviewed during final trimester of pregnancy and again at 6 months postbirth. Both groups were relatively comfortable with their pregnancy resolution decisions. Placers were less comfortable with their decision, fared better on…

Describes how one teacher continued to teach after becoming pregnant, even though this was against school policy. Reminds teachers that Henry Thoreau claimed it is moral to disobey an immoral law. (HB)

Examined sex and race bias in recent research on adolescent pregnancy prevention. Descriptive statistics from 71 citations showed that, of 33 articles focusing on single sex, one was on males. Of remaining articles, majority did not differentiate between sexes or provided minimal data on sex differences. Discusses consequences of research that…

Pregnancy and delivery complications in the birth of 23 high-functioning autistic females and 23 high-functioning autistic males of similar intelligence quotient and age were compared with those of 54 normally developing siblings. Findings suggest that these factors may be less significant in high-functioning individuals than in severely retarded…

Discusses the need for maternity benefits for working women. Suggests that although most countries provide paid maternity leave by law, there is a gap between that law and practice. Includes a chart depicting maternity protection (length of leave, cash benefits, who pays) around the world. (JOW)

Describes an under-recognized target population for adolescent pregnancy prevention: the younger sisters of childbearing teens. Data from several studies highlight several potential prepregnancy-risk characteristics that are particularly present in this group. These young women have disproportionately higher rates of early pregnancy and…

Analysis of data from a sample of women in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth shows that adolescent fertility substantially reduces years of formal education and work experience. These reductions in human capital have a significant effect on wages at age 25. (SK)

Describes a 20-year program of research on the Nurse Home Visitation Program, a model in which nurses visit mothers beginning at pregnancy and continuing through the children's second birthdays. Summarizes results of two randomized trials and concludes that the use of nurses as home visitors is key to program success. (SLD)

Students (N=697) from 20 schools in Missouri who identified themselves as not having had sex were surveyed. Results show the most frequent reasons for not having sex were related to fears of pregnancy and diseases. The least frequent reasons were related to problems concerning the cost and availability of birth control and protection. (Author/MKA)

Explores whether paid leave leads to longer or shorter interruptions of work. Results, based on a national survey, indicate that women with access to paid leave worked later into pregnancy, were less likely to work during the birth month, and started work sooner once the infant reached two months of age. (RJM)