The perinatal period offers a unique opportunity for enhancing the mental health of women and their families. Women come into frequent contact with health professionals during this time and the enhancement of their emotional well being can promote their own, their infant's, and their partner's health. The aim of this book is to assist health…

This fact sheet presents several data tables related to teen pregnancy, birth rates, abortion, contraceptive use, and sexually transmitted diseases. The data reveal that during the 1990s, rates of teen childbearing have declined, returning to the levels reached in the mid-1980s. Declines come from a lower proportion of teens having sex and a…

This report presents revised birth and fertility rates for 1991-1999, plus previously published rates for 2000-2001, based on populations consistent with the April 1, 2000 census. Revised rates for Hispanic subgroups are also included. Rates are presented by age, race, and Hispanic origin of mother; by age, race, Hispanic origin, and marital…

The Plain Talk initiative, developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, was designed to increase the amount and quality of communication that parents and community adults provided youth regarding responsible sexual decision making. It offered parents and other community adults information and skills necessary to communicate more effectively with…

Featuring profiles of families involved in a variety of progressive parenting approaches, this guide integrates the physical, mental, spiritual and social tasks of childrearing to present a holistic approach to parenting and family life. The chapters are: (1) "The Whole Parenting Approach to Family Life"; (2) "A Healthy Start:…

This brief Kids Count report reviews principal adverse birth outcomes that affect the status of infants in Montana, including infant mortality and low birth weight. Statistics and brief summaries are provided in the following areas: (1) infant mortality (on the decline since 1989); (2) low birth rate (remaining steady from 1988 through 1992); (3)…

Addresses the issue of pregnancy in adolescent girls from a psychiatric viewpoint. Explores why adolescent girls become pregnant; how pregnancy affects the adolescent's emotional process; pregnant adolescents becoming emotional/physical "at-risk" cases; and which factors affect the birth-delivery process. Discusses how sex education can help…

Considers sociological theories of delinquency causation in order to attempt to integrate research from the fields of optometry, audiology, neurology, and pediatric medicine into the mainstream of sociological theories of delinquency causation. Found strong and consistent relationships between the presence of these health problems and delinquency.…

Risks are greater for infants born to mothers who drink, smoke, use drugs, have poor nutrition, lack adequate prenatal care, or who are in adolescence. Parenting education and promoting healthy lifestyles among expectant parents is an essential component of education for responsible sexuality. (JN)

The literature is reviewed in terms of medical studies: who becomes pregnant, teenagers who choose to abort, psychological considerations, contraceptive utilization, attitudes of male adolescents, and the children of adolescents. The effectiveness of special programs for pregnant adolescents and their offspring and implications for policy and…

A review of the recent literature on pregnancy resolution among unmarried adolescent women suggests that those who seek and go through with an abortion do not comprise a "special" population, but are similar to their age mates in many of their social and psychological characteristics. (Author/DB)

Presents a study designed to determine which particular aspects of pregnancy, birth, and babies were of most interest to 8-year-old children. Children were interested in details of a baby's behavior and development as well as the impact of its arrival on the parents. There were distinct gender differences in those topics, which particularly…

The effects of anticonvulsant medication or alcohol use during pregnancy on the development of children are examined. Malformations of children whose mothers used anticonvulsant medications or alcohol while pregnant are illustrated. Prevention of the use of alcohol and anticonvulsant medication by pregnant women is discussed. (CR)

A study examining the relationship between acculturation and sexual activity, contraceptive use, and attitudes toward self surveyed 290 Los Angeles area Latina adolescents. Less acculturated adolescents were less likely to engage in sexual activity, with place of birth being the most powerful predictor of differences. Implications for pregnancy…

Notes the importance of more fully appreciating and developing the role of advocacy within the health education profession, explaining that a systems approach can be used as a framework to develop and implement an advocacy action plan and presenting an example of advocating for the promotion of female condoms as a method of preventing sexually…