Q&A: AAP guidance on caring for adolescent parents and their children
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The AAP updated its guidelines on caring for adolescent parents and their children to include new recommendations on contraception, breastfeeding, and other guidance for pediatricians and clinicians.
According to the new guidance, data from 2017 showed “historically” low birth rates for adolescents and young women in the U.S. aged 15 to 19 years. Moreover, since 2007, teen birth rates have declined by 51%, and repeat births among teen mothers have declined from 20% in 2004 to 17% in 2016.
Healio spoke with Makia E. Powers, MD, MPH, MSc, FAAP, and Jennifer Takagishi, MD, FAAP, from the AAP’s Committee on Adolescence and Council on Early Childhood, about the new guidance.
Healio: What obstacles do adolescent parents face?
Takagishi: Adolescent parents face multiple obstacles, starting with negative stereotypes regarding themselves to issues obtaining resources and support. Adolescent parents are more likely to live in poverty, have difficulty finding housing and completing their education, and may be unable to find day care for their children.
Powers: The biggest obstacle, as stated, is the stigma placed on adolescent parents.
Healio: What information in the updated clinical report is new?
Takagishi: The updated report includes sections regarding long-acting reversible contraception for adolescents to decrease the risk for rapid repeat pregnancies, and recommendations for pediatricians to support adolescent parents and their children, outlines the types of resources these families need and provides information regarding increasing the social and emotional well-being of young children and their adolescent parents.
Powers: Additionally, the updated report expands on topics of breastfeeding and also on adolescent fathers.
Healio: What are some other key guidelines for young families?
Takagishi: Young families should maintain relationships between both adolescent parents whenever feasible, should complete their education and use resources to support their mental health and provide healthy environments for their families, and should support the social and emotional development of their children, such as through reading to them and playing with them.
Healio: What is the best thing a pediatrician can do to support young families?
Takagishi: The most important thing a pediatrician can do to support young families is to provide resources to these families, such as housing, education and day care.
Healio: Will the COVID-19 pandemic have an impact on the rate of young pregnancies?
Powers: It is unclear whether COVID-19 will impact pregnancy rates among adolescents. Because of the various quarantine measures implemented, it is unclear if the pregnancy rates among this population will decrease or stay the same.