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Description
Teenage birth rates have been decreasing at record-breaking levels across the United States. Although birth rates are declining, Latina teenagers remain disproportionately affected, experiencing the highest rates of teenage pregnancy of all racial and ethnic groups. Ventura County is no exception as Latina teens experience a birth rate seven times the rate of all other racial and ethnic groups. Understanding what factors contribute to teenage pregnancy and how Latina teens navigate such as life-changing experience are important to not only address teenage pregnancy but also identify ways to support young families. Researchers are making the call to implement ecological models to address the multi-level influences contributing to risky sexual behavior among youth. The current study implements a qualitative approach through in-depth participant interviews and focus groups with former Latina teenage mothers from Ventura County. Self identified Latinas, 20 years and older, were recruited by convenience sampling from local childcare facilities, college campuses, coffee shops, community centers, and community based programs. Participants were asked to describe their personal experience leading up to their pregnancy, after their pregnancy, and recommendations to address teenage pregnancy. A total of 18 former Latina teen mothers participated in the study, 13 in the individual interviews and five in a focus group. Results identified nine risk and two protective factors at five levels of influence contributing to their teenage pregnancy experience. When asked regarding their views of their teenage pregnancy experience, former teen mothers commented on perceived challenges and rewards associated with young motherhood. They also shared managing the teenage pregnancy experience with the support of family, partners, and social welfare programs. Finally, former teenage mothers made recommendations to address the issue of teenage pregnancy in Ventura County framed by the risk and protective factors shared in their personal testimonies, highlighting public health programming geared towards developing better relationships with parents, partners, and peers while expanding sexual health education and youth development programming to address adolescent Latinas unique cultural and social needs.
