| Abstrakt: |
Although explanations for high rates of adolescent pregnancy in the United States are not conclusive, adverse outcomes associated with early childbearing are well-documented. Little is known about the specific circumstances and consequences of adolescent pregnancy in rural areas. This article summarizes a systematic review of literature relevant to pregnancy and pregnancy prevention for rural adolescents for 1980 to 1995. The primary focus of this study was on the eight southeastern states in Department of Health and Human Services Region IV From approximately 500 relevant citations in the database collected for this review, few dealt explicitly with adolescent pregnancy in rural areas, and an even smaller subset of the literature used empirical data. No data were found that indicated sexual activity was lower among rural teens, or that the risks of adolescent pregnancy and behaviors detrimental to pregnancy outcomes were less common in rural areas. Social isolation, lack of educational and economic opportunities, and limited access to health services are key issues with respect to rural youth and their healthy development. The relatively fewer numbers of health professionals in rural areas, weaker infrastructures for transportation and information, heightened concerns about confidentiality, low rates of insurance coverage, and reluctance to accept social services reduce the likelihood of rural teens receiving adequate preventive or reproductive care. Future research should address the social circumstances of rural adolescents to design effective interventions for teen pregnancy prevention and appropriate reproductive health services for young mothers and families in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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