Factors associated with prenatal care use among inner-city adolescents in Winnipeg: a mixed methods study

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy is an important public health issue. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine factors related to inadequate use of prenatal care (PNC) among adolescents living in inner-city Winnipeg. The quantitative component consisted of a secondary analysis of data from 92 adolescents (<20 years of age) who participated in a larger case-control study. Adolescents who were of First Nations ethnicity, single, multiparous, and who had low interpersonal support were more likely to receive inadequate PNC. Barriers, facilitators and motivators to PNC utilization were also identified. The qualitative component consisted of open-ended interviews with ten inner-city pregnant adolescents to examine how social support affected their use of PNC. Results showed that material, emotional and informational support were important factors affecting use of PNC. The most important source of material and emotional support was the adolescent’s mother, and the main source of informational support was the PNC provider.