Socio-family factors associated to the decision of give up for adoption in single pregnant adolescents

Abstract

Most authors report that, even though adoption can be seen as a very beneficial alternative for the son or daughter of an adolescent who has experienced an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy, very few adolescents choose this option. Many factors can influence this decision. Objective: To examine in a retrospective and prospective way, social and family variables associated to the decision of adoption in single pregnant adolescents. Method: The pregnant adolescents seen in CEMERA who announced during their pregnancy the decision of giving a child in adoption. Adolescents who comunicated their intention of giving the child in adoption (94) were compared to adolescents who had the intention of keeping the child (623). A questionnaire was applied to all of them in the first consultation at the Center, They were asked about their personal and family data and about their decision regarding the child. Twenty four months after childbirth, an interview was applied to the adolescents who manifested the decision of giving the child in adoption, in order to evaluate the result of this decision. Results: The variables associated to the decision of adoption were: younger age, being a student, rape, an attitude of rejection towards the baby, both from the adolescent and from her family group, and not having been brought up by both parents. The variables that were associated to the decision of keeping the child were: parents’ marriage affiliation, and a higher number of siblings. Follow up of the ones who had chosen adoption during pregnancy showed that 49% gave up adoption after child- birth and among the ones who completed adoption, only one regretted this decision.