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Biomedical subjects

M E Felice

Publications and source records attributed to M E Felice.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Repeat pregnancy among urban adolescents: sociodemographic, family, and health factors.

First-time adolescent mothers are at high risk for a repeat pregnancy. The present investigation, part of an ongoing longitudinal study, examined sociodemographic, family, and health factors associated with repeat Pregnancy in a clinic sample of urban, first-time adolescent mothers (ages 13 to 17 years). They were predominantly African-American and from low-income households. Repeat pregnancy within one year and between one and two years postpartum was determined from medical records. Summary statistics, point biserial correlations, and chi-square statistics were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that postpartum contraceptive method was associated with repeat pregnancy at Year 1; contraceptive use, maternal age, history of miscarriages, and postpartum contraceptive method were associated with repeat pregnancy at Year 2. It was concluded that efforts to prevent repeat pregnancies among first-time adolescent mothers should include the continuous monitoring of contraceptive use, as well as the promotion of long-acting contraceptives (e.g., medroxyprogesterone or progesterone implants). Further, counseling should be offered to adolescent mothers with a history offered miscarriages.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Adolescent pregnancy--current trends and issues: 1998 American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adolescence, 1998-1999.

Although the prevention of unintended adolescent pregnancy is a primary goal of the American Academy of Pediatrics and society, many adolescents continue to become pregnant. Since the last statement on adolescent pregnancy was issued by the Academy in 1989, new observations have been recorded in the literature. The purpose of this new statement is to review current trends and issues on adolescent pregnancy to update practitioners on this topic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Adolescence. Contraception in adolescents.

The risks and negative consequences of adolescent sexual intercourse are of national concern, and promoting sexual abstinence is an important goal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In previous publications, the American Academy of Pediatrics has addressed important issues of adolescent sexuality, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception. The development of new contraceptive technologies mandates a revision of this policy statement, which provides the pediatrician with an updated review of adolescent sexuality and use of contraception by adolescents and presents current guidelines for counseling adolescents on sexual activity and contraceptive methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Qualities of adolescent mothers' parenting.

PURPOSE: This study examined the interrelations among adolescent mothers' parenting attitudes, parenting confidence, and parenting stress and the potential differences in these dimensions by mothers' age, race and parity, and age and sex of child. METHODS: Subjects were 119 former adolescent mothers (M age = 20.2 years) from predominantly poor, minority backgrounds (50% Hispanic, 27% African-American, 17% non-Hispanic white). All subjects completed questionnaires about their parenting qualities twice an average of 10 weeks apart. All children were at least one year of age (M age = 37.2 months; range 12-50 months). RESULTS: Results indicated that for some mothers there exists a triple jeopardy of low parenting confidence, high parenting stress, and inappropriate parenting values. Young maternal age at delivery and young maternal age at the time of this study were associated with low child acceptance. Non-Hispanic white mothers had significantly more favorable parenting values than did African-American and Hispanic mothers, and African-American mothers reported significantly greater caretaking confidence than did Hispanic mothers. No parity or sex of child effects were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the presence of meaningful patterns of convergence and within-group variation for the psychological qualities of adolescent mothers' parenting.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A comparative study of adolescent and adult mothers who intend to breastfeed.

The purpose of this study was to compare reasons for choosing to breastfeed, timing of the infant feeding decision, and intended duration of breastfeeding between adolescent and adult mothers. The study population consisted of primiparous teens and adults who were matched by ethnicity, and interviewed within 48 hours postpartum at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center from August to December, 1989. Of the 48 women in each age group, there were 40 Hispanics, 5 non-Hispanic whites, 2 blacks, and 1 Southeast Asian. Results showed that the teens differed from their adult counterparts in that they cited naturalness or convenience less often as a reason for breastfeeding. The adolescent mothers were also less likely than the adults to make the decision to breastfeed before the pregnancy, than during pregnancy or after birth. There was no difference in intended duration of breastfeeding between these two groups: the majority of women planned to breastfeed for less than 26 weeks. Early introduction of infant feeding education may serve to increase the adolescent's knowledge base from which to make the decision to breastfeed. Even though the adolescents intended to breastfeed for as long as the adults, they may benefit from increased exposure to prenatal care and childbirth classes as well as from a supportive school or work environment in order to achieve success in breastfeeding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Does American acculturation affect outcome of Mexican-American teenage pregnancy?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether pregnant Mexican-American teenagers who are acculturated to American lifestyles have different medical and psychosocial problems from those who are more recent immigrants. Consecutive pregnant Mexican-American (or Mexican) teenagers attending a university obstetrics clinic for teenagers were divided into two groups based on country of birth of parents and teen, citizenship, preferred language, and years of U.S. residence. There were 60 in the acculturated group (G1) and 56 in the recent immigrant group (G2). Acculturated teenagers were younger at first sexual intercourse, completed more years of schooling, and sought earlier prenatal care (p < 0.05 for all above). Both groups delivered full-term singletons of average birth weight (mean = 3337 g +/- 477 g). All G2 fathers were Mexican, older (p < 0.05), more likely to be married to G2 teens (p < 0.001), and employed (p < 0.01). The G1 fathers completed more years of schooling (p < 0.05), and 10% were non-Mexican. These data underscore the need to consider acculturation, as well as ethnicity in understanding the experience of pregnant teenagers.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1993

Adolescent substance use during pregnancy.

Substance use during pregnancy may be a key mediator of the association between adolescent childbearing and poor newborn outcome. Substance use during pregnancy was evaluated for 50 teens who were consecutive patients at an inner-city university clinic. Although teens reported typical lifetime rates of substance use, self-reports and two urine assays indicated minimal substance use throughout pregnancy. Findings suggest that the adolescents exercised judicious decision making in light of the known health risks of substance use during pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Psychosocial and economic factors associated with infant feeding intentions of adolescent mothers.

The infant feeding intentions of 64 primiparous, adolescent females, ages 14-18 years, were studied to assess factors which differentiated those who chose breastfeeding from those who did not. The study population consisted of 43 Hispanic, 9 black, 7 non-Hispanic white, and 5 Filipino or Southeast Asian subjects interviewed after delivery. Among the Hispanics, 31 primarily spoke Spanish, and 12 primarily spoke English. A total of 72% intended to breastfeed, and 22% planned to exclusively formula feed. Those teens who intended to breastfeed were significantly older, more often married, more likely to be Hispanic and Spanish speaking, and less likely to have been in school during the pregnancy. In addition, teens were more likely to choose breastfeeding if they had been breastfed themselves or exposed to other women who breastfed. These data suggest that the younger, non-Hispanic, single teen who is enrolled in school and lacking exposure to breastfeeding is the most in need of breastfeeding-promotion programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Pregnancy risk among the younger sisters of pregnant and childbearing adolescents.

There is increasing evidence that younger sisters of childbearing teenagers are at increased risk for adolescent childbearing. We critically review this research and discuss three plausible theoretical explanations (social modeling, shared parenting influences, and shared societal risk) why the younger sisters of childbearing adolescents would themselves be at risk for teenage pregnancy. Considerations for preventive interventions aimed at the younger sisters of pregnant teenagers and directions for future research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Adolescent body image during pregnancy.

This study compares the body perceptions of pregnant teenagers with those of their never-pregnant peers. Forty-three third-trimester pregnant girls were matched by age, race, socioeconomic status, and pubertal development to 43 never-pregnant girls. Subjects were given the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 100 self-descriptive statements which are divided into nine subscales. When compared with never-pregnant girls, the pregnant girls have a higher overall self-esteem, a more positive body image, a surer self-identity, and feel more productive as a family member, but appeared limited in their capacity for self-criticism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Do health care needs of indigent Mexican-American, black, and white adolescents differ?

Few studies have addressed the specific health care needs of Mexican-American adolescents. This 2-year study assessed the routine health care needs and incidence of chronic illness among 279 Mexican-American, 233 white, and 333 black indigent adolescents enrolled in a vocational training program. Mexican-Americans were more likely to have a positive purified protein derivative tuberculin test and acne/eczema requiring treatment. Blacks were more likely to have incomplete immunizations and thyroid disorders, while whites were more likely to have musculoskeletal conditions and require family planning services and psychiatric intervention for mental health disorders. Although no difference in incidence of chronic illness was noted, our data suggests that routine health care needs may differ among indigent Mexican-American, white, and black adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The development of a testicular self-examination instructional booklet for adolescents.

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common cancer in 15-34-year-old males, but many young men are unaware of their risks, symptoms, and possibility of detection by testicular self-examination (TSE). After a pretest to determine baseline knowledge and TSE activity, 66 young men, 15-20 years old (means = 18.5 +/- 1.5), were given a programmed-learning self-instructional booklet to read. A posttest after completion of reading the booklet assessed attitudes and new knowledge. A 2-year follow-up tested knowledge and current TSE activity. Pretest analysis revealed that only 15% of the subjects were aware of their risks of TC, and only 6% had been taught TSE by a health professional. Subjects were unable to correctly identify the symptoms of TC, and only 1.5% reported regularly performing TSE. At 2-year follow-up, 95% (p less than .001) knew that a small lump was the most common symptom of TC, and 67% reported performance of TSE (p less than .001). These results suggest that adolescent males are not being taught about TC and TSE, and that our booklet is effective in teaching young men about TC risks and symptoms and how to perform TSE. This self-instruction method may be useful in health education classes for high school and college age youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Outcomes and parent-child relationships of former adolescent mothers and their 12-year-old children.

This study compared former adolescent mothers and their 12-year-old children with adult child-bearing mothers and their children along three dimensions: mothers' life-course characteristics (e.g., educational attainment, employment status, current annual family income); children's scholastic, psychological, social, and behavioral adjustment; and dimensions of the parent-child relationship (e.g., companionship, affection, intimacy). Results showed that adolescent mothers had significantly lower levels of completed education than adult mothers, and children of teenage mothers exhibited more learning problems (as rated by self, mother, and teacher) than children of adult mothers. Younger childbearing mothers and fathers felt they provided less esteem enhancement support to their children than older childbearing parents. In addition, early childbearing mothers felt less satisfied with their mother-child relationships, and early childbearing fathers shared fewer companionate activities with their children than adult childbearing mothers and fathers, respectively. The long-term implications of adolescent parenting for the adolescent and her child are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Is repeat pregnancy in adolescents a "planned" affair?

This study assessed whether girls who become pregnant more than once do so for different reasons than girls who are pregnant for the first time. Girls in group 1 (G1) were pregnant for the first time (n = 104, 69%) and those in group 2 (G2) were pregnant for the second time or more (n = 46, 31%). About 60% of the girls in G2 had living children at home, but they were more likely than those in G1 to state that they became pregnant because they wanted a baby (G2 44%, G1 21%; p less than 0.01) and, conversely, girls in G1 were more likely than those in G2 to state that the pregnancy was an accident and "just happened" (G1 61%, G2 37%; p less than 0.01). Many girls who become pregnant more than once appear to do so intentionally.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Eating pattern disturbances among women medical and graduate students.

In this study, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) was used to determine the incidence of disturbed eating patterns and other characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia among women graduate and medical students. The EDI was given to 219 female graduate students and 132 female medical students by mail questionnaire (61% return rate). Excessive dieting concerns, as measured by the Drive for Thinness subscale, were significantly more common in medical students compared to graduate students (18.7% versus 12.9%; p less than 0.05). The incidence of bulimic eating patterns was also insignificantly higher in the medical students. The prevalence of bulimia estimated from this survey is similar to that reported in undergraduate women, but the estimated prevalence of anorexia nervosa in both medical and graduate students is lower than reported for younger students. Our data suggest that a competitive environment alone does not appear to lead to greater expression of anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Routine screening for gestational diabetes in white, black, and Mexican-American teenagers.

This study assesses the frequency of gestational diabetes in a multiethnic teenage pregnancy clinic. One hundred thirty-seven women age 12-18 years were screened with a 1-hour 50-gm glucola test at 24-34 weeks gestation. Screening tests were positive in 5.8% of these teenagers, of whom half were obese. Gestational diabetes was documented in two primiparas (1.4%). Maternal weight gain was excessive in 54%, and 8.7% of the total group had macrosomic infants. We conclude that gestational diabetes should be screened for in all young pregnant women with the screening test recommended by the Second International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes.

Adolescent↗