Intimate partner victimization and health risk behaviors among pregnant adolescents

I.E. Udo, J.B. Lewis, J.N. Tobin and J.R. Ickovics

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 8, 1457-1459

Abstract: Objectives. To provide lifetime estimates of intimate partner victimization among pregnant adolescents and examine associations between victimization and health risk behaviors identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as leading causes of adolescent morbidity and mortality. Methods. Participants (n = 1233) were predominantly Latina (58%) and non-Latina Black (34%) pregnant adolescents (aged 14-21 years) enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of group prenatal care in 14 clinical sites in New York City (2008-2012). They completed surveys to assess interpersonal victimization and risk behaviors: substance use, risky sexual behaviors, injuries or violence, unhealthy dietary behavior, and inadequate physical activity. Results. Fifty-two percent reported intimate partner victimization, which was associated with nearly all health risk behaviors. Conclusions. Pregnant adolescents who experienced intimate partner victimization were significantly more likely to engage in health risk behaviors, which can have adverse health consequences. Expanded prevention programs tailored to specific needs of pregnant adolescents are needed. Health care providers and others who work with pregnant adolescents should consistently screen for and intervene in intimate partner victimization. © 2013 American Public Health Association.

Keywords: adolescent; African American; crime victim; diet; drug dependence; epidemiology; ethnology; exercise; female; health behavior; high risk behavior; Hispanic; human; New York; partner violence; pregnancy; pregnant woman; risk factor; sexual behavior; socioeconomics; statistics and numerical data; young adult, Adolescent; African Americans; Crime Victims; Diet; Exercise; Female; Health Behavior; Hispanic Americans; Humans; New York City; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Spouse Abuse; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303202

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303202_5

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303202

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().