Mentors help teen moms avoid second child

Reuters reported on October 4, 2006 on a study which appears in the October, 2006 issue of the journal, Pediatrics, which found that providing a mentor to African American teenage first time mothers significantly reduces the birth of a second child.

"Mentoring programs, which connect adolescents with adults for support and advice, have attracted national attention as a strategy to reduce risk behaviors among adolescents," they point out.

The mentors in their program were black, college-educated, young mothers, each of whom had one preschool-age child. By portraying themselves as "big sisters," they took on a supportive role rather than an authoritarian role.

The teen moms and mentors aimed to meet twice a month starting when the first child was born and continuing, if possible, for 12 months. Mentors were trained to follow an established curriculum that touched on everything from sex education to taking care of a baby.

The effectiveness of the mentoring program was evident after only two visits and increased over time, Black and colleagues found.

Having just two or more "big sister" meetings increased the odds of not having a second child more than threefold, they report. Only one mother who had six or more meetings with her mentor had a second infant.

Teens who gave birth to a second child after 24 months reported high-self esteem, positive life events, and were romantically involved and living with the first infant's father.

Link: MedlinePlus: Mentors help teen moms avoid second child.