Adolescent mothers: a challenge for First Nations.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Adolescent pregnancy is a growing Public Health problem in Greenland, resulting in higher risk of mortality of mothers and their children. Since social and cultural aspects are associated with adolescent pregnancy, a closer look was taken at the situation of adolescent mothers in Greenland and in Native American communities. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adolescent pregnancies and birth rates were followed in Greenland and in the First Nation communities in Alaska. Adolescent pregnancies decreased during the 1990s in both communities, but increased in 2000, bringing up the birth rate to 79 and 92 babies per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 yrs in Greenland in the U.S., respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A mentoring program to delay adolescent pregnancy and parenting, shown to be effective in African American and Latino communities, could be also used in the Greenlandic setting.