Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adolescent Pregnancy: a Meta-analytic Update

Overview

Journal J Pediatr Psychol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Date 2008 Sep 17

PMID 18794188

Citations 49

Authors

Jennie G Noll

Chad E Shenk

Karen T Putnam

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Recent increases in adolescent pregnancies have sparked a renewed impetus to identify risk factors, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA), associated with adolescent pregnancy. Given mixed evidence regarding the strength of the relationship between CSA and adolescent pregnancy (Blinn-Pike, Berger, Dixon, Kuschel, & Kaplan, 2002), our objective was to provide an estimate of the effect size of this relationship using updated literature and meta-analytic techniques.

Methods: Meta-analyses of 21 studies were conducted using a random effects model of binary outcomes to determine aggregate effect-size estimates controlling for study heterogeneity.

Results: CSA significantly increased the odds of experiencing an adolescent pregnancy by 2.21-fold (95% CI: 1.94-2.51). A supplemental analysis suggested that 4.5 out of 10 pregnant adolescents may have a prior history of CSA.

Conclusions: CSA places females at increased risk for subsequent adolescent pregnancy. Addressing conditions associated with CSA might impact the overall adolescent pregnancy rate.

Citing Articles

Path Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Early Marriage, Early Pregnancy, and Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Women in Honduras.

Huber-Krum S, Miedema S, Wu Shortt J, Villaveces A, Kress H J Fam Violence. 2024; 39:705-722.

PMID: 38655238 PMC: 11034739. DOI: 10.1007/s10896-023-00520-y.

The Association of Teen Pregnancy and Violence: A Multilevel Study in Colombia.

Ruiz-Sternberg A, Botero-Pinzon M, Nino-Orrego M, Pinzon-Rondon A Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2024; 5(1):46-55.

PMID: 38500846 PMC: 10946673. DOI: 10.1089/whr.2021.0075.

The effectiveness of combined approaches towards improving utilisation of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Kenya: a quasi-experimental evaluation.

Mutea L, Maluni J, Kabue M, Were V, Ontiri S, Michielsen K Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023; 31(1):2257073.

PMID: 37791876 PMC: 10552573. DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2257073.

Rates of Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight in an Adolescent Obstetric Clinic: Achieving Health Equity Through Trauma-Informed Care.

Norona-Zhou A, Ashby B, Richardson G, Ehmer A, Scott S, Dardar S Health Equity. 2023; 7(1):562-569.

PMID: 37731783 PMC: 10507928. DOI: 10.1089/heq.2023.0075.

The association between violence victimization and subsequent unplanned pregnancy among adolescent girls in Uganda: Do primary schools make a difference?.

Merrill K, Knight L, Nakuti J, Mirembe A, Allen E, Bhatia A PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023; 3(7):e0001141.

PMID: 37523344 PMC: 10389730. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001141.

References

Nagy S, Diclemente R, Adcock A . Adverse factors associated with forced sex among southern adolescent girls. Pediatrics. 1995; 96(5 Pt 1):944-6. View

Raj A, Silverman J, Amaro H . The relationship between sexual abuse and sexual risk among high school students: findings from the 1997 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Matern Child Health J. 2000; 4(2):125-34. DOI: 10.1023/a:1009526422148. View

East P, Jacobson L . The younger siblings of teenage mothers: a follow-up of their pregnancy risk. Dev Psychol. 2001; 37(2):254-64. PMC: 3878983. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.37.2.254. View

Boardman L, Allsworth J, Phipps M, Lapane K . Risk factors for unintended versus intended rapid repeat pregnancies among adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 39(4):597.e1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.03.017. View

Romans S, Martin J, Morris E . Risk factors for adolescent pregnancy: how important is child sexual abuse? Otago Women's Health Study. N Z Med J. 1997; 110(1037):30-3. View

Upchurch D, Kusunoki Y . Associations between forced sex, sexual and protective practices, and sexually transmitted diseases among a national sample of adolescent girls. Womens Health Issues. 2004; 14(3):75-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2004.03.006. View

Martin J, Hamilton B, Sutton P, Ventura S, Menacker F, Kirmeyer S . Births: final data for 2005. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2008; 56(6):1-103. View

Stevens-Simon C, McAnarney E . Childhood victimization: relationship to adolescent pregnancy outcome. Child Abuse Negl. 1994; 18(7):569-75. DOI: 10.1016/0145-2134(94)90083-3. View

Petitti D . Approaches to heterogeneity in meta-analysis. Stat Med. 2001; 20(23):3625-33. DOI: 10.1002/sim.1091. View

10.

Connolly J, Furman W, Konarski R . The role of peers in the emergence of heterosexual romantic relationships in adolescence. Child Dev. 2000; 71(5):1395-408. DOI: 10.1111/1467-8624.00235. View

11.

Silverman J, Raj A, Mucci L, HATHAWAY J . Dating violence against adolescent girls and associated substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, and suicidality. JAMA. 2001; 286(5):572-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.286.5.572. View

12.

Santelli J, Kaiser J, Hirsch L, Radosh A, Simkin L, Middlestadt S . Initiation of sexual intercourse among middle school adolescents: the influence of psychosocial factors. J Adolesc Health. 2004; 34(3):200-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.06.004. View

13.

Giancola P, Mezzich A, Tarter R . Disruptive, delinquent and aggressive behavior in female adolescents with a psychoactive substance use disorder: relation to executive cognitive functioning. J Stud Alcohol. 1998; 59(5):560-7. DOI: 10.15288/jsa.1998.59.560. View

14.

Miller B, McCoy J, Olson T . Dating age and stage as correlates of adolescent sexual attitudes and behavior. J Adolesc Res. 1986; 1(3):361-71. DOI: 10.1177/074355488613009. View

15.

Mason W, Zimmerman L, Evans W . Sexual and physical abuse among incarcerated youth: implications for sexual behavior, contraceptive use, and teenage pregnancy. Child Abuse Negl. 1998; 22(10):987-95. DOI: 10.1016/s0145-2134(98)00080-5. View

16.

Boyer D, Fine D . Sexual abuse as a factor in adolescent pregnancy and child maltreatment. Fam Plann Perspect. 1992; 24(1):4-11, 19. View

17.

Paolucci E, Genuis M, Violato C . A meta-analysis of the published research on the effects of child sexual abuse. J Psychol. 2001; 135(1):17-36. DOI: 10.1080/00223980109603677. View

18.

Rainey D, Stevens-Simon C, Kaplan D . Are adolescents who report prior sexual abuse at higher risk for pregnancy?. Child Abuse Negl. 1995; 19(10):1283-8. DOI: 10.1016/0145-2134(95)00088-p. View

19.

Stevens-Simon C, Kelly L, Singer D, Cox A . Why pregnant adolescents say they did not use contraceptives prior to conception. J Adolesc Health. 1996; 19(1):48-53; discussion 54-5. DOI: 10.1016/1054-139X(95)00281-V. View

20.

Noll J, Trickett P, Putnam F . A prospective investigation of the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the development of sexuality. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003; 71(3):575-86. PMC: 3012425. DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.71.3.575. View