Does American acculturation affect outcome of Mexican-American teenage pregnancy?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether pregnant Mexican-American teenagers who are acculturated to American lifestyles have different medical and psychosocial problems from those who are more recent immigrants. Consecutive pregnant Mexican-American (or Mexican) teenagers attending a university obstetrics clinic for teenagers were divided into two groups based on country of birth of parents and teen, citizenship, preferred language, and years of U.S. residence. There were 60 in the acculturated group (G1) and 56 in the recent immigrant group (G2). Acculturated teenagers were younger at first sexual intercourse, completed more years of schooling, and sought earlier prenatal care (p < 0.05 for all above). Both groups delivered full-term singletons of average birth weight (mean = 3337 g +/- 477 g). All G2 fathers were Mexican, older (p < 0.05), more likely to be married to G2 teens (p < 0.001), and employed (p < 0.01). The G1 fathers completed more years of schooling (p < 0.05), and 10% were non-Mexican. These data underscore the need to consider acculturation, as well as ethnicity in understanding the experience of pregnant teenagers.

Do health care needs of indigent Mexican-American, black, and white adolescents differ?

Few studies have addressed the specific health care needs of Mexican-American adolescents. This 2-year study assessed the routine health care needs and incidence of chronic illness among 279 Mexican-American, 233 white, and 333 black indigent adolescents enrolled in a vocational training program. Mexican-Americans were more likely to have a positive purified protein derivative tuberculin test and acne/eczema requiring treatment. Blacks were more likely to have incomplete immunizations and thyroid disorders, while whites were more likely to have musculoskeletal conditions and require family planning services and psychiatric intervention for mental health disorders. Although no difference in incidence of chronic illness was noted, our data suggests that routine health care needs may differ among indigent Mexican-American, white, and black adolescents.

Psychosocial aspects of Mexican-American, white, and black teenage pregnancy.

This study assesses whether pregnant Mexican-American adolescents have psychosocial characteristics different from their pregnant white or black peers. The study population consisted of 199 consecutive Mexican-American, white, and black pregnant adolescents, ages 11-19 years, followed prospectively at the University of California San Diego Medical Center Teen Obstetric Clinic from 1978 to 1981 (79 whites, 76 Mexican-Americans, and 44 blacks). Although all three groups had the same chronologic age (X = 16.4 +/- 1.4 years), and the same number of years of schooling, pregnant black adolescents were more likely to be in school at the time of registration for prenatal care (p less than 0.01). Mexican-American teens were more likely to be married at conception and/or delivery (p less than 0.001), and to breastfeed their infants (p less than 0.05). The fathers of the Mexican-American babies were more likely than other fathers to be full-time students or employed (p less than 0.001). Although pregnant Mexican-American teens came from the largest families (p less than 0.001), black teenagers most frequently reported a good mother-daughter relationship (p less than 0.05). White pregnant teens most frequently reported a family history of psychiatric illness (p less than 0.01), parental death (p less than 0.05), or runaway behavior (p less than 0.01). These data suggest that pregnant teenagers from these three racial/ethnic backgrounds have different psychosocial profiles and hence different psychosocial problems and needs.