Health Outcomes for Children Born to Teen Mothers in Cape Town, South Africa

Two studies specifically examine health outcomes of children born to teen mothers in Cape Town, South Africa. They investigate the incidence of low birth weight and some pre- and post-childbirth maternal health behavioral outcomes, including prenatal care, smoking and drinking during pregnancy, breast-feeding and well-child visits. Later initiation of prenatal care and a higher incidence of smoking during pregnancy among teen mothers have been the only outcomes found to remain significant after adjusting for family background. These studies use the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS) data, a uniquely rich longitudinal data set of youths and their children in Cape Town, to conduct the investigations.