Exploring the relationship between purpose in life and African American adolescents' use of prenatal care services.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Although prenatal care can prevent or minimize many of the risks associated with adolescent pregnancy, most young people either underutilize or avoid this service. This study investigated the hypothesis that adolescents who have a sound sense of life's meaning and purpose will have higher levels of participation in prenatal care than those without such direction. Respondents included 30 African-American adolescent females (mean age, 17 years) referred by a local health center. The mean score on Crumbaugh's Purpose-in-Life test was 97.3 out of a maximum of 140 (high purpose). Other studies utilizing this measure have yielded mean scores ranging from 108.5 for college undergraduates to 118.9 among successful businessmen and professionals. Correlation analysis failed to reveal any significant association between use of prenatal services and purpose in life scores. Overall, these findings suggest that health and social service providers should not place a major emphasis on such philosophical issues when attempting to encourage use of prenatal services among Black youth. It should be considered, however, that this particular measure may lack validity in a sample of very young African-Americans. Recommended are further studies to assess the impact of factors such as agency staffing patterns, modes of service information dissemination, physical environment of service facilities, and instructional content on prenatal care utilization.