This study confirmed the hypothesis that pregnant teenagers in the 1990s are more likely to have a mother who had a teenage pregnancy than non-pregnant teenagers. It also found that the daughters of teenage mothers are more likely to continue their own pregnancies.
PIP: General practice records were studied to identify differences between pregnant and nonpregnant teenagers in relation to their mothers' experiences. 37 females aged 13-19 years registered with the Honiton Group Practice who had had at least one pregnancy by January 1, 1996, were studied in detail. An equal number of nonpregnant controls also participated in the study. For 31 of the 37 girls in the study group and 34 of the 37 in the control group it was possible to establish whether their mother had had a teenage pregnancy. Half of the pregnant teenagers had a mother who had also had a teenage conception compared with 25% of the girls in the control group. These findings therefore confirm the hypothesis that pregnant teenagers in the 1990s are more likely to have a mother who had a teenage pregnancy than nonpregnant teens. The study also found that the daughters of teenage mothers are more likely to continue their own pregnancies.