HISPANICS - AT RISK FOR ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY

Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982‐1984, were analyzed to describe pregnancy, miscarriage, and age‐specific birth rates as well as oral contraceptive use among Mexican‐American, Puerto Rican, and Cuban‐American females age 12 to 19 years. The Cuban‐American sample (n= 85) had the lowest pregnancy (99) and fertility (37) rates, with 6.5% ever having used oral contraceptives. In the Mexican‐American (n= 638) and Puerto Rican women (n= 300) the pregnancy and fertility rates were 205 and 223, and 141 and 110, respectively. Of these two groups, 14.5% and 12.6% had ever used oral contraceptives. These results suggest that Mexican‐Americans and Puerto Ricans are at risk for adolescent pregnancy, with the latter having more of the sociodemographic characteristics associated with the long‐term disadvantages of early childbearing. These facts have implications for nursing practice and research. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved