Psychosocial risk factors that influence adolescent pregnancy in prenatal control women in Panama.

Abstract

Objectives: To know psychosocial factors that affect the pregnancy of a group of adolescents who attended prenatal care in 3 Health Regions of the province of Panama. Methodology: the sample, originally of 350 adolescents, had to be reduced to 230 young people, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Even so, only 121 young people were recruited (53.0%). The information was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire, with open and closed questions.  Results: the average age is 17 years; 67.0% have incomplete secondary schooling and 43.8% are in union. 60.3% and 41.3% define the relationship with their mother and father as good, respectively, while 44.5% of these young women say they have positive communication with their mother and only 27.3% consider the dialogue with their father in the same way. 72.7% had a history of early pregnancy; 51.2% of their peers were mothers or pregnant. 90.0% had heard about contraceptive methods, but more than a third of the sample (36.4%) had never used contraceptive methods. The desire for pregnancy occurred in 30.6% of cases. Conclusion: Incomplete schooling, family history of early pregnancies, motherhood among their peer group, non-use of contraceptive methods and desire for pregnancy can contribute to adolescents becoming mothers early.