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Infant Feeding and Contraceptive Practices Among Adolescents with a High Teen Pregnancy Rate: A 3-Year Retrospective Study

2010; Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; Volume: 19; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1089/jwh.2009.1849

1931-843X

Tracy Glass, Keelie Tucker, Robert C. Stewart, Teresa Baker, Robert P. Kauffman,

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

Adolescents consistently demonstrate the lowest rates of breastfeeding among women of reproductive age despite well-documented benefits of breastfeeding. In Amarillo, Texas, a medium-sized community with a perennially high teen pregnancy rate, we sought (1) to determine breastfeedings practices among adolescent females immediately after delivery and again at 6 weeks and (2) to identify contraceptive choices among the same teen population.This was a retrospective chart review focused on adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 coming to a university-based obstetrical service between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2008. Data on breastfeeding and contraceptive practices were analyzed.Five hundred forty-three cases were analyzed. At hospital discharge, 59.3% initiated breastfeeding, but this dropped to 22.2% at the 6-week postpartum appointment. Over 27% of all study subjects failed to appear for postpartum evaluation. Multiparity was the only outcome variable associated with failure to initiate breastfeeding. Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate, the levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD), and combination oral contraceptives were the most popular contraceptive choices, but 16% elected to forego any form of contraception at the postpartum visit.Adolescent women living in an area of Texas with a high teen pregnancy rate reported relatively low breastfeeding rates immediately postpartum, with a >50% decrease in breastfeeding in any form by 6 weeks postpartum. A substantial number failed to initiate any form of contraception at the postpartum visit. These findings support the critical need for additional breastfeeding support and contraceptive education in this at-risk adolescent population.