ABSTRACT
Concerns about menstrual function are a frequent reason for primary care visits during adolescence. Following a review of normal pubertal development and menstrual function, primary care assessment and management of delayed menarche, amenorrhea, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding during adolescence are presented.
Subject(s)
Menstruation Disturbances/nursing , Nurse Practitioners/methods , Adolescent , Clinical Protocols , Female , Humans , Menstruation Disturbances/diagnosis , Menstruation Disturbances/therapy , Nursing AssessmentABSTRACT
Of 43 adolescent mothers who had been enrolled in a specialized program of prenatal care, 20 reported no subsequent unplanned pregnancy for 2 years. Descriptive statistics were used to identify differences between these nonrepeaters and 23 repeaters. The locus-of-control framework provided the theoretical basis for the study. The two study groups and those lost to follow-up were similar in demographic characteristics. School attendance, contraceptive knowledge, use of contraception, locus of control, and maternal support did not effectively differentiate the two groups. Program activities, including attendance at prenatal groups and nurse/social worker visits, also did not explain recidivism. Implications of these findings for health care providers and for further research are discussed.
