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Measuring changes in attitude is beyond the scope of most research, but some attempts have been made to find out what teenagers feel about their pregnancy. You can divide in those who wanted to conceive ( 22% ); those who did not mind either way ( 25 %); those who had not considered the possibility of pregnancy (18%); and those who had thought it important to conceive when they did (35%). Earlier research with a sample of 102 young women in Bristol found that 28% had planned the pregnancy; 10% were ambivalent; 16% had not planned it but were pleased at the news; and 46% had neither planned the pregnancy nor were pleased at the news. Younger teenagers are especially likely to enter into pregnancy without considering the consequences of their actions.
By late pregnancy the feelings of both teenagers and those close to them had become more positive. The reasons why teenagers carry their pregnancy to term, despite initial fears and unpromising circumstances, are many and varied. Ignorance or denial of the pregnancy; teenage rebellion; a desire for adult status; or the need for an object to love;
HEALTH
The health of teenage mothers has often been described as poorer than that of older mothers, and particularly poor for younger teenage mothers. However, a large recent study found few differences in health between pregnant younger teenagers and pregnant women in their early 20s. Exceptions were anaemia, urinary tract infections and hypertension, all commoner in the younger group. Smoking and drinking patterns may be relatively heavy in pregnant teenagers.
Emotional disturbance may also be common, especially if the decision about whether or not to seek an abortion is a difficult one. Teenagers may through their ineffective use of contraception find themselves vulnerable to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Diet may be poor and the use of health sevices patchy. Teenage mothers are less likely to breastfeed their children.
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