Detained Adolescents' Attitudes about Pregnancy and Parenthood

The health of adolescents in detention: a global scoping review

“…The reported proportion of detained female adolescents who had ever been pregnant ranged Scoping Review from 20% to 37%. 27,43,66,86,[130][131][132][133][134][135] Two studies reported that between 2% and 6% of detained females were currently pregnant, 14,124 and one US study indicated that pregnancy was the focus of 1•1 healthcare visits per detained female per month (range 0-6 visits). 136 Another study reported that 11% of young female detainees had at least one child.…”

“…86 Three studies reported that 22-31% of detained adolescent males had ever been responsible for a pregnancy. 132,134,137 Seven papers documented the respondents' reported age of sexual debut; six studies reported an average age of 12-13 years, 27,66,[130][131][132][133] while one reported a range from 8 years to 13 years of age. 137 No corresponding normative data could be located for nondetained children and adolescents of this age.…”

A Pilot Program to Address Healthy Sexual Behaviors Among Girls in Juvenile Detention

“…Authors described that teen women in juvenile justice perceived few negative consequences and associated positive rewards with early parenting (Kelly et al., ). Girls saw sexual activity and pregnancy as a means to gain affection, freedom, and family attention and to escape from current life stressors, while not considering the realities of teen parenting (Becker & Barth, ; Herrman, ; Kelly et al., ). Kelly et al.…”

“…Kelly et al. () noted that teens in foster and out‐of‐home care, as in detention residences, were less cognizant of the challenges and hardships associated with adolescent childbearing. Therefore, the Young Women Get Real Program included a unit based on the Thoughts on Teen Parenting Survey (TTPS) as a framework for the third component of the curriculum designed to illustrate impact of a birth on teen lives and the importance of goal setting for future successes.…”

“…These mental health issues and sexual health behaviors may serve as a foundation for significant health risks warranting nursing intervention (Chang et al., ; Kelly, Hall, Martinez, & Peralez‐Dieckmann, ; Kelly, Owen, Peralez‐Dieckmann, & Martinez, ; Ruffulo et al., ). Nursing may serve a key role in empowering young women in sexual decision making, enhancing the development of a positive self‐esteem, and promoting the sexual health of this population (Kelly, Lesser, & Paper, ; Kelly et al., ). This article describes a unique pilot intervention designed to provide a short‐term sexual decision‐making curriculum using a nursing student teaching model with girls in a Level IV juvenile detention faculty.…”