Antecedents of Adolescent Sexual Attitudes and Behavior: Contextual Data Supplement to the 1976-1987 National Survey of Children

Investigators: Kristen A. Moore

An increasing number of studies have focused on the importance of contextual level influences on outcomes ranging from adolescent sexual behavior and teen pregnancy to educational attainment and delinquency. Although contextual variables constitute more distal influences than factors such as parenting styles and peer pressure, these "neighborhood" variables are reported to have substantial effects on individual outcomes. The data set, Antecedents of Sexual Attitudes and Behavior: Contextual Data Supplement to the 1976-1987 National Survey of Children, was created to examine the contextual predictors of adolescent sexual intercourse and teen attitudes about sex. Data from the 1976 and 1987 National Survey of Children (NSC) and other sources were assembled to assess neighborhoodand state-level demographic, economic, social, cultural and policy factors that influence adolescent sexual behavior. Zip code-level data were obtained from the NSC and the 1980 U.S. Census. State-level data were obtained from a variety of sources, including, the U.S. Census, State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, the Handbook of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Alan Guttmacher Institute. Contextual variables included in this data set span the following categories: population; family structure; income and poverty; labor force participation; education; religion; marriage and divorce; voting behavior; substance use and crime; housing; teen deaths; women's status; birth rates, pregnancy, and abortion rates; neighborhood quality; and mobility.

Baltimore Multigenerational Family Study: Family Processes of Adolescent and Young Adult Mothers, 1987-1988

Investigators: P. Lindsay Chase-Landsale, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, and Jennifer L. Matjasko

The Baltimore Multigenerational Family Study: Family Processes of Adolescent and Young Adult Mothers, 1987-1988 is a partial follow-up of the Baltimore Study of Adolescent Mothers begun twenty years ago by Frank Furstenberg and now in its fourth generation. The present study examines 136 African-American teenage mothers, their mothers, and their children in order to understand how family relationships affect the life prospects of the children of teen mothers. Data for this study were gathered by videotape, in-person interview, and psychological assessment. A total of 136 cases were surveyed. Of the 136 total cases, 103 cases contain full interview data; 99 cases contain complete data on all child outcome measures. This data set is comprised of separate data and documentation files for grandmothers (Data Set #M8-M9) and mothers (Data Set #N1-N2). All child outcome measures are included in Data Set #N1-N2. The grandmother's data file contains 1,039 variables; the mother's data file contains 1,210 variables.

Baltimore Study of Unplanned Teen Parenthood, 1966-1972

Investigators: Frank Furstenberg

This dataset includes information from four waves of interviews with 404 women who, in 1966, registered at the Sinai Hospital prenatal clinic. All were pregnant and under 18 at the time. The study, directed by Dr. Frank Furstenberg, began as an evaluation of a program designed to help teenage mothers. It was designed to be longitudinal in order to assess the lasting impact of the program. An adolescent's interview focused on occupational and marital career plans, impacts of the pregnancy, sexual patterns, birth control knowledge and experience, attitudes toward medical care, and information on family relations. A separate interview with the adolescent's mother also solicited personal background material about the family and the occupational careers of the parents. As the study continued, its goals expanded and eventually formally became "explore the process of adjustment to unplanned parenthood and to explain the divergent life patterns that occur as a consequence of an unscheduled birth." This is a rich and detailed dataset with 1,413 variables collected over five years. The longitudinal nature of the investigation makes this data set a unique source of information on what happens over time to teenage mothers and their families. The study is continuing to the present time, and data from later waves will be added to the archive as they become available. Note for users of DAAPPP Data Sets #01-B1DAAPPP data sets 01 through B1 are comprised of a User's Guide, SPSS syntax files (*.SPS or *.SPX) and raw data files only. Most of these datasets contain SPSS syntax files that use Job Control Language (JCL) from 1980s versions of SPSS-X. Because the syntax is old, the syntax files require editing to conform to the current syntax standards used by SPSS/Windows or SPSS/Unix. If you require technical assistance in using or editing these syntax files, please contact Sociometrics' Data Support Group at 800.846.3475 or socio@socio.com.

Birthweights of Infants Born in the Years 1970-1975 to Adolescent and Young Adult Women in Magee-Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

Investigators: Isabelle L. Horon, Donna M. Strobino, and Hugh MacDonald

This study involves a comparison of two groups each consisting of 422 primigravid mothers and their infants. The purpose of the research was to determine if adolescent women under the age of 16 had lower birthweight infants than women aged 20 to 24. The study found no basic differences in infant birthweight based upon the age of the mother. However, it did find infant birthweight differences related to other demographic factors. Those women who were white and those who had more economic buying power had infants with higher birthweights. Gestational age, pregnancy weight, weight change during pregnancy, and number of antepartum clinic visits were also associated with higher birth weight infants.

Boston City Hospital Maternal Health Habits Project, 1984-87

Investigators: Barry Zuckerman, Ralph Hingson, Deborah Frank and Hortensia Amaro

The 1984-87 Boston City Hospital Maternal Health Habits Project was conducted as part of an ongoing study of maternal health behaviors, psychosocial characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. The study was designed to investigate the effects on infants of various prenatal factors, including the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs; violence; emotional well-being; social support; and life experiences. Subjects were continuously recruited from the Women's and Adolescent Prenatal Clinics of Boston City Hospital from July 1984 through June 1987. English- and Spanish-speaking women who were willing to give informed consent and who gave birth by December 31, 1987 were eligible to participate in the study. Participants were interviewed at least twice — once during the prenatal period at the time of registration in the study and again during the immediate postpartum period. A subset of the participants were also interviewed at 32 to 36 weeks into the pregnancy. Prenatal and postpartum interviews obtained information on patterns of use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and psychoactive drugs; participants' demographic and psychosocial characteristics; and participants' reproductive and general medical histories. Also, at the time of interviews, participants submitted urine samples to be used for drug testing. After delivery, information documenting reproductive and medical histories, prenatal and intrapartum risk factors, and weight gain during pregnancy was abstracted from mothers' medical records. Infants were examined within 8 to 72 hours of delivery by a physician who was blinded to the mothers' prenatal histories.

Boston City Hospital Study on Neonatal Outcome, 1977-1979

Investigators: Barry Zuckerman & Suzette Levenson

A study of maternal health and fetal development at Boston City Hospital provided an opportunity to explore whether infants born to adolescents exhibit poorer outcomes at birth than infants born to nonadolescents, and if the outcomes are poorer, whether adolescent status or other health habits or life situations are more predictive of those outcomes. This study was set up to assess whether adolescent and nonadolescent mothers varied on numerous maternal characteristics, labor and delivery events, and neonatal outcome measures. Outcome variables examined included length of gestation, infant size at delivery, and Apgar scores. The independent variables were: drug use (never, prepregnancy, or during pregnancy), prepregnancy weight, number of previous pregnancies, religious affiliation, race, history of prior maternal illnesses (e.g., hypertension, diabetes), number of miscarriages and abortions, risk factors (e.g., toxemia, epilepsy, anemia, accidents) during pregnancy, weight change during pregnancy, time of first prenatal visit (first, second, or third trimesters, or no prenatal care), daily coffee consumption, x-ray exposure during pregnancy, number of cigarettes smoked per day during pregnancy, marijuana use (never, prepregnancy, pre- and during pregnancy), education, number of meals per day, sex of infant, alcohol consumption (average daily drinks) prior to pregnancy and during pregnancy separately, and iron use. Additional variables include: whether the mother had premature rupture of the membrane, a Cesarian section, meconiumstained fluid, oxytocin (Pitocin)-induced labor, medications during labor, use and route of anesthesia, maternal fever, whether the infant had an abnormal presentation, or abnormal placenta, nuchal cord, decelerations, intubation, and forceps extraction. Further data on infant status, including congenital malformations and weight at birth, were also added.

California Perinatal Substance Exposure Study, 1992

Investigators: William A. Vega

This epidemiologic cross-sectional survey was conducted in order to obtain a 1992 estimate of prevalence of prenatal drug exposure by specific drug type for both the State of California as a whole and for the major regions within the state. Several other goals of the research included contrasting perinatal substance exposure prevalence for a variety of subgroups, including geographic region, socioeconomic level, race/ethnicity, and other sociodemographic factors. There was also interest in conducting a risk factor analysis to identify profiles of risk for individual-level perinatal substance exposure in California. It was hoped that data produced by this study would provide an accurate population-based estimates of the number of substance-exposed infants born in California, and thereby provide a basis for future studies, program evaluations, and clinical- and community-based interventions. Urine specimens and demographic information were collected anonymously from 29,494 pregnant women admitted for delivery in 202 maternity hospitals throughout the state between March and October, 1992. This study, which represents the largest survey of perinatal substance exposure reported to date, assessed 46 variables across 29,494 cases.

Chicago Urban League 1979 Young Chicagoans Survey

Investigators: Dennis Hogan and Evelyn Kitagawa

This study examined the demographic, social, economic and fertility characteristics of black teenage girls residing in the City of Chicago in 1979. The study sample consisted of 1,078 black female respondents aged 13-19 selected to comprise two randomly drawn two-stage area probability samples of Chicago households. The two independent samples included 388 respondents from Chicago, and 690 respondents from surrounding poor areas. The survey non-response rate was less than 10%. All data were collected through personal interviews by female interviewers. Information was obtained regarding age at first coital experience, marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, as well as basic background information (e.g., marital status, religion, education, employment status, and family income). Note for users of DAAPPP Data Sets #01-B1DAAPPP data sets 01 through B1 are comprised of a User's Guide, SPSS syntax files (*.SPS or *.SPX) and raw data files only. Most of these datasets contain SPSS syntax files that use Job Control Language (JCL) from 1980s versions of SPSS-X. Because the syntax is old, the syntax files require editing to conform to the current syntax standards used by SPSS/Windows or SPSS/Unix. If you require technical assistance in using or editing these syntax files, please contact Sociometrics' Data Support Group at 800.846.3475 or socio@socio.com.

Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey, 1981

Investigators: National Center for Health Statistics

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was designed to provide national data on the incidence of acute illness and accidental injuries, chronic conditions and impairments, disabilities, the utilization of health care services, and other health-related topics. In 1981, after several years of planning and preparation, a comprehensive supplement on children was included with the survey. One child from each eligible household was randomly selected, and data collected on a nationwide probability sample of 15,416 children 17 years of age and under. Questionnaire topics included family structure, child care arrangements, breastfeeding, motor and social development, medications, birth and prenatal events, lifetime hospitalizations and surgery, chronic conditions, weight, eyes and teeth, school attendance and performance, behavior problems, social effects of ill health, and sleep habits. Additional data about health and medical care were also collected as part of the core NHIS questionnaire. In all there are 1,416 variables in the Data Set. This Data Set should prove particularly useful as a baseline national sample for comparisons with smaller or more specialized samples. The microcomputer version of the raw data is an extract of 1,028 cases. Note for users of DAAPPP Data Sets #01-B1DAAPPP data sets 01 through B1 are comprised of a User's Guide, SPSS syntax files (*.SPS or *.SPX) and raw data files only. Most of these datasets contain SPSS syntax files that use Job Control Language (JCL) from 1980s versions of SPSS-X. Because the syntax is old, the syntax files require editing to conform to the current syntax standards used by SPSS/Windows or SPSS/Unix. If you require technical assistance in using or editing these syntax files, please contact Sociometrics' Data Support Group at 800.846.3475 or socio@socio.com.

Clients of the Certified Nurse Midwifery Program of Maternal and Family Health Services in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1982-1986

Investigators: Charles LaJeunesse, Mary Louise Schaefer, and Connie McNunis

The AFL Demonstration Program was enacted to provide local communities and institutions with workable models of prevention programs that discourage premarital adolescent sexual relations and care programs that reduce the negative consequences of adolescent pregnancy. To develop these models, AFL authorized grants for three types of demonstrations: (1) projects which provide "care services" only (i.e., services for the provision of comprehensive services to pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, and their families); (2) projects which provide "prevention services" only (i.e., services to promote abstinence from adolescent premarital sexual relations); and (3) projects which provide a combination of care and prevention services. The demonstration projects were multi-year projects (3 to 5 years), renewable annually. As of March 1988, 97 demonstration projects had been funded. Each demonstration project has an internal evaluation component designed to test hypotheses specific to that project's service delivery model. Projects were evaluated by an independent evaluator contracted by each grantee. Evaluators were usually affiliated with a college or university in the grantee's state. Data Set B9 was collected as an evaluation of the Certified Nursing Midwifery (CNM) Program of the Maternal & Family Health Services, Inc., in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The project began in October 1982 with Adolescent Family Life care program funding. The project provides care services to a predominantly white population of pregnant and parenting adolescents. In this evaluation, the hospital-based outpatient care program with a Health Visitor component is compared with the hospital-based project clinic operation before the Health Visitor component was given a major role. The evaluation focuses on teen pregnancy outcomes and postnatal care. The data cover clients registered from April 1982 through May 1986 and have been divided into two periods. The pre-treatment, or comparison group, covers April 1982 through August 1983; the treatment, or study group, covers February 1984 through May 1986. In the comparison group, the role of the Health Visitor was minimal; usually the Health Visitor became involved only after the birth of the child. In the study group, the Health Visitor became involved early on in the pregnancy and had a much more comprehensive role. The project offers pregnancy testing, prenatal and postpartum health care, nutritional and social services counseling, as well as the Health Visitor program. Although services are provided to male partners and family members as well, the data contain information only regarding the pregnant or parenting female adolescent. The surveys included questions on respondent demographic characteristics, pregnancy and childbirth history, contraceptive methods and behaviors, medical complications, pregnancy risk factors, delivery complications, and program involvement at different follow-up periods. The actual intervention of the program is as follows. All new clients are given a pamphlet on adoption at their first prenatal visit (see Appendix D). The pamphlet was developed by the project to introduce adolescents to adoption and to invite their exploration of this option. A Health Visitor provided support and counseling through the baby's first birthday. The Health Visitor contacts included clinic and hospital visits, telephone calls, family planning and well-baby visits, and home visits. In the comparison group, the Health Visitor was to have contact with the client at least four times--in the hospital directly after delivery, 4 weeks after delivery, 6 months after delivery, and 12 months after delivery. In the study group, Health Visitors were to become involved with pregnant adolescents early in the pregnancy. The Health Visitor had contact with the client at her first visit to the clinic, when she was 5 months pregnant, at delivery, and at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after delivery, as well as at any time the pregnant or parenting adolescent was in need of the Health Visitor's services. The role of Health Visitors is to encourage and assist young parents to remain in or return to school; make use of family planning methods; enroll in vocational classes or a job training program; learn about baby care, budgeting, and meal preparation; and secure housing, WIC, and financial assistance. By establishing a solid bond with the client prior to delivery, the Health Visitor lays the foundation for an ongoing relationship. An advisory committee, consisting in part of pregnant and parenting adolescents and their family members, meets regularly to provide feedback to the project on its services. As a result of the committee's recommendations, the project added parenting classes, which grandparents and fathers were also invited to attend, to its services.