Adolescent pregnancy: a hospital-based program for primary prevention.

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Abstract
A problem of great importance among adolescents is that of pregnancy. For the past 5 years over 1,000 girls, 14-16 years of age, have given birth to live infants each in Baltimore. Significant obstetrical and neonatal problems, as well as serious social and educational difficulties are associated with adolescent pregnancy. A problem of this magnitude warrenat an attempt at primary prevention. The Adolescent Family Life Service was established at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore to provide birth control services and information for sexually active nulliparous teenagers with the consent of the teenager and her parents. The approach has been one of providing birth control services only as a part of a full program of medical and social assistance offered in a comprehensive Adolescent Center. At the end of the program''s 1st year, 62 patients were active with the Clinic, 43 had received contraceptive services and the remainder participated in group sessions or received other clinic services such as counseling and medical consultations. Efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of the program are presently underway.

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