Abstract
The decrease in adolescent birth rates in the United States has been slower among Latinas than among other ethnic/racial groups.
Limited research has explored how socioeconomic opportunities influence childbearing among Latina adolescents. We conducted
in-depth interviews with 65 pregnant foreign- and US-born Latina women (31 adolescents; 34 adults) in two California counties.
We assessed perceived socioeconomic opportunities and examined how family, immigration and acculturation affected the relationships
between socioeconomic opportunities and adolescent childbearing. Compared with women who delayed childbearing into adulthood,
pregnant adolescents described having few resources for educational and career development and experiencing numerous socioeconomic
and social barriers to achieving their goals. Socioeconomic instability and policies limiting access to education influenced
childbearing for immigrant adolescents. In contrast, family disintegration tied to poverty figured prominently in US-born
adolescents’ childbearing. Limited socioeconomic opportunities may play a large role in persistently high pregnancy rates
among Latina adolescents.
Limited research has explored how socioeconomic opportunities influence childbearing among Latina adolescents. We conducted
in-depth interviews with 65 pregnant foreign- and US-born Latina women (31 adolescents; 34 adults) in two California counties.
We assessed perceived socioeconomic opportunities and examined how family, immigration and acculturation affected the relationships
between socioeconomic opportunities and adolescent childbearing. Compared with women who delayed childbearing into adulthood,
pregnant adolescents described having few resources for educational and career development and experiencing numerous socioeconomic
and social barriers to achieving their goals. Socioeconomic instability and policies limiting access to education influenced
childbearing for immigrant adolescents. In contrast, family disintegration tied to poverty figured prominently in US-born
adolescents’ childbearing. Limited socioeconomic opportunities may play a large role in persistently high pregnancy rates
among Latina adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9653-z
- Authors
- Alexandra M. Minnis, Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
- Kristen Marchi, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center on Social Disparities in Health, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Lauren Ralph, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- M. Antonia Biggs, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Sarah Combellick, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Abigail Arons, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Claire D. Brindis, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Paula Braveman, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center on Social Disparities in Health, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912