Risk Factors and Protection Factor of Pregnancy in Adolescents

This study was done by Bernardita Baeza W. (Midwife), Ana María Póo F. (Psychologist - Midwife), Olga Vásquez P.(Anthropologist), Sergio Muñoz N. (Biostatistics) and Carlos Vallejos V. (Gynecologist) from Universidad de la Frontera.

Aims: To identify and understand factors associated to pregnancy in adolescents under the perspective of the never pregnant adolescent. 

Methods: Qualitative study undergone on women 15 to 19 years of age.
Based sample of women that were drawn from 2 schools chosen due to their high pregnancy rate.
Four focus groups were created and each one was composed by 14  women randomly selected.
also, by researchers were studied factors associated to individuals, to family, and to social environment.
 

Results: Risk factor that appeared to be favouring pregnancy in the individuals were: “romantic love”, no use of contraceptives, low self esteem, male irresponsibility, lack of knowledge in sexuality. At the family level, the factors are: the permit’s restriction and paternal negligence.
Protective factors which help in avoiding pregnancy in adolescents at the individual level are: subject’s reflexive capacity and project of life. At the family level: protection and clearly defined limits by family.

Conclusions: The opinion of non-pregnant adolescents and pregnant will allow researchers designing individual, family strategies and social  to help in reducing the unwanted pregnancy in adolescents.
Main risk factors (as factors that favouring pregnancy) here identified are: “romantic love”, restrictions and paternal negligence.
reflexive capacity and protective family are the ones shown as factors preventives.

Key words: Associated factors, risk factor, protection factors, unwanted pregnancy, pregnancy in adolescents.