First births to maltreated adolescent girls: Differences associated with spending time in foster care

Child Maltreatment, 2017

Bryn King, PhD, MSW

Suggested Citation
King, B. (2017). First births to maltreated adolescent girls: Differences associated with spending time in foster care. Child Maltreatment, 22(2), 145–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559517701856

Conclusions
 Of the 85,766 girls with substantiated allegations of maltreatment during adolescence, nearly 18% subsequently gave birth. Among girls who spent time in foster care, the proportion was higher (19.5%). Significant variations (p < .001) were observed in the rate of childbirth across demographic characteristics and maltreatment experiences. When accounting for all of the covariates, spending time in foster care was associated with a modestly higher rate of a first birth (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.10; 95% confidence interval = [1.06, 1.14]). While age at first substantiated allegation of maltreatment and race/ethnicity were significant predictors of adolescent childbirth, specific maltreatment experiences were associated with minimal or no differences in birth rates.