Sociocultural characteristics of pregnant and nonpregnant adolescents of low socioeconomic status: a comparative study.

The objective of this study was to compare the sociocultural characteristics of pregnant adolescents of low SES with a nonpregnant adolescent group from the same area of Santiago, Chile. The sample was composed of 229 adolescents, 129 of whom were pregnant for the first time (group A), and 100 who were not pregnant (group B). Each pregnant girl was matched with a nonpregnant girl of the same age and from the same neighborhood. Several differences between the groups were found. Group A had less schooling, a lower level of aspirations, and tended to live in "the present." In addition, norms of behavior were more permissive, they did not practice any religion, and their peer group had more liberal attitudes. The importance of breaking these patterns in order to prevent adolescent pregnancy is discussed.