ADOLESCENT MOTHERS AND POSTPARTUM COMPLIANCE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PATIENT RETURN

Study Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of socio-demographic and medical factors on compliance to postpartum care among inner city adolescents. Design: This was a prospective study using random assignment of postpartum adolescent mothers to either a treatment or control group for follow-up appointment reminders. Results: Treatment teens who returned more often for postpartum care had complicated deliveries (chi2 = 14.25, p = 0.0001), preterm infants (chi2 = 6.49, p = 0.03), resided with parents (chi2 = 9.05, p = 0.028), had no educational plans (chi2 = 10.90, p = 0.0009), lacked prenatal care (chi2 = 12.99, p = 0.0003), and a stated presence of a support system (chi2 = 9.85, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Though both groups had marginal compliance, treatment group adolescents who received postcard and phone reminders returned more frequently than control group teens.