Book Chapter

Raskauksien sosioekonomiset ja alueelliset erot

Vikat, A.
Socio-demographic differences in teenage pregnancies
In: Kosunen, E. A.-L., Ritamo, M. (Eds.): Näkökulmia nuorten seksuaaliterveyteen, 29–40
Stakes Raportteja 282
Helsinki, Stakes (2004)

Abstract

The article summarises research findings on socio-demographic differences in the occurrence of pregnancies in Finnish girls aged 14–19 from 1987 to 1998. Since most pregnancies under age 20 are unplanned, the occurrence of adolescent pregnancies reflects adolescent sexual activity and contraceptive practices. Girls from a lower socio-economic background had a higher pregnancy risk. The risk was also increased among teenagers not living in an intact nuclear family, especially if they lived separately from their parents. Girls who lived in a stepfamily had a higher pregnancy risk than those who lived in a one-parent family. Swedish-speaking girls had a lower pregnancy risk than Finnish-speaking girls, even when the higher socio-economic background of Swedish-speaking girls was controlled for. There were no marked changes in socio-economic and regional differences in adolescent pregnancies from 1987 to 1998. Part of the socio-economic differences can be explained by the earlier onset of sexual activity in lower socio-economic groups.
Keywords: Finland, adolescent pregnancy, socio-economic differentials
The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock is one of the leading demographic research centers in the world. It's part of the Max Planck Society, the internationally renowned German research society.