San Jose, California Study of Adolescent Perinatal Risk Behavior, 1982

This study was designated to simultaneously investigate the relationship between lifestyle features of adolescent pregnancy and those behaviors known to put the pregnant woman and her offspring at risk. Ninety-three women under 17 were surveyed while still hospitalized following the birth of a child. Each woman was asked questions about substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuna, and other drugs). In addition, questions about the women's family and background were asked as were questions concerning the pregnancy and labor, the perinatal outcome, social support, the use of services, the role of the father of the child, contraceptive use, the timing of events during the pregnancy, and the woman's orientation toward the future. Earlier, intensive interviews had been conducted with forty pregnant adolescents. Although the results of those earlier interviews were not computerized and are not included here, they formed an integral part of the overall study. The hospital survey was developed to validate and elaborate on significant issues which eme rged from the intensive, open-ended interviews. There are 93 cases and 226 variables.