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Association of early childbearing and low cognitive ability
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Association of early childbearing and low cognitive ability

Darlene L Shearer, Beverly A Mulvihill, Lorraine V Klerman, Jan L Wallander, Mary E Hovinga and David T Redden
Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, v 34(5), pp 236-243
Sep 2002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3097822
PMID: 12392216
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

United States - epidemiology Cognition Disorders - physiopathology Data Interpretation, Statistical Sexual Behavior Humans Risk Factors Male Pregnancy in Adolescence - psychology Pregnancy in Adolescence - statistics & numerical data Pregnancy Cognition Disorders - complications Maternal Age Adolescent Adult Female Cognition Disorders - epidemiology Longitudinal Studies Cohort Studies
Teenage pregnancy remains a pressing social issue and public health problem in the United States. Low cognitive ability is seldom studied as a risk factor for adolescent childbearing. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were used in a matched-pairs nested case-control study comparing women who had a first birth before age 18 with those who did not. Significant differences in Armed Forces Qualifications Test scores and in reproductive and social intervening variables were determined using chi-square analyses and t-tests. Multiple logistic regression models determined the independent effects of specific factors on early childbearing. Women who had their first birth before age 18 had significantly lower cognitive scores than others; women with a second birth before age 20 had significantly lower scores than those with one teenage birth. On average, women with the lowest cognitive scores initiated sexual activity 1.4 years earlier than those with the highest cognitive scores. Among those who had had a sexuality education course, a smaller proportion of women had scores in the first quartile for the overall sample than in the fourth quartile (20% vs. 28%); an even greater difference was seen among women who correctly answered a question about pregnancy risk (14% vs. 43%). Both poverty and low cognitive ability increased the odds of early childbearing. Young women with low cognitive ability are at increased risk for early initiation of sexual activity and early pregnancy. Further research is needed to design interventions that consider this population's specific information and support needs.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Demography
Family Studies
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