A DESCRIPTION AND COMPARISON OF HEALTH RELATED ACTIVITIES OF PREGNANT AND NONPREGNANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 125
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Health promotion and disease prevention for mothers and babies at risk for health problems were the foci for this study. More specifically, this study described and compared health related opinions and activities of pregnant and nonpregnant teens who had remained in school.

This study took place in four public high schools in Chicago. A paper and pencil questionnaire of health related activities was administered to 432 female students. Of this group, 119 were pregnant and 313 were nonpregnant. Statistical analyses of the data were done using analysis of variance, factor analysis, and product-moment correlational techniques.

Comparisons of the pregnant and nonpregnant subjects showed groups to be different in regard to nutrition, exercise, sleep, and caffeine intake. The pregnant group exhibited more positive health activities. Pregnant and nonpregnant subjects were similar in feelings of loneliness, perceptions of social support, and knowledge of risk of harm from substance use. Subjects reported feeling lonely but having someone to go to for help and reported that risk from occasional use of alcohol or marijuana as being low. Subjects reported great risk from regular use of cigarettes or any use of illicit drugs, and that babies were at great risk if their mothers had used any substance during pregnancy. The most commonly used substances were alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana.

The results indicate that pregnant and nonpregnant subjects were quite similar. Pregnant subjects who were receiving special health and support services also reported better health activities. Cigarette smoking was quite common and was higher than national norms. Further research of cigarette smoking habits of pregnant teens and of effective nursing interventions is needed. Study of pregnant teens who have dropped out of school or are not receiving institutional support is needed to clarify which variables contribute to the pregnant teen and her baby being at risk for future health and developmental problems. Knowledge of such variables could be used in the program planning of nursing services for pregnant teens.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, Section: B, page: 1733.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1984.

School code: 0806.