Gravidez na adolescência: motivos e percepções de adolescentes.

Abstract

This research encompasses the capital Aracaju, Sergipe, and its surroundings health districts. It was dealt from October to December 2002 with 216 pregnant adolescents assisted by the Strategy of the Family Health Program. Its main goal is to raise and identify the social-demographic and the gynecological profile of those young ladies, by identifying the reason which led them to pregnancy and by knowing their pereption of it. The vast majority of them are 17, colored, literate, house-wives who have one single steady partner and survive with less than the minimum wage. Among those 32.4% got their first period by the age of 12; 25% had their first sexual intercourse by the age of 16; anf 72.7% had their first gestation. The reason which stood out from the others was the will to become a mother, for their perception towards pregnancy is related to happiness and personal achievement.