The relationship of childhood sexual abuse to teenage pregnancy

This study examined whether childhood sexual abuse contributed to a greater risk for teenage pregnancy. Data from the sexual histories of 2,003 young women showed that sexual abuse alone was not related to the incidence of teenage pregnancy, but sexual precocity, alone and in combination with sexual abuse, was related to much higher incidences of teenage pregnancy. Logistic regression showed that social class, ethnicity, age at first coitus, not using birth control at first sex, and sexual abuse by a boyfriend were significant predictors of teenage pregnancy. Early coitus and not using contraception at first coitus were the strongest predictors of teenage pregnancy.