The Association between Access to Healthcare and Pregnancy in Teens

Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97911788403

Abstract: Despite efforts to improve sexual education for adolescents, the United States still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy (Stanger-Hall, 2011). Additionally, since healthcare access in the U.S. is commonly determined by financial status and general resource-accessibility, certain demographics, including poorer and uneducated women, have increasingly higher rates of unplanned pregnancies (Hocklong, 2003). This study examines data from American adolescents, ages 11-18, related to pregnancy, healthcare accessibility status, and annual household income. The study aims to determine whether or not there are financial barriers that prevent teens from accessing healthcare that may be crucial to preventing unintended pregnancy. The results of the study show that there is an association between healthcare access and pregnancy in teens, but not when controlling for annual household income as well. The results determined that individuals with higher annual household incomes are have a decreased likelihood in experiencing teen pregnancy than those with lower annual household incomes. The implications of these findings for understanding why some individuals may be at a greater risk of experiencing teen pregnancy are discussed.

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