Hmong adolescent mothers: their chosen path and undetermined future
Author(s):
Dettmer, Kim; Meschke, Laurie L.
Format:
Conference presentation
Publisher:
2002.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Hmong adolescents are at high risk of pregnancy. In 1999 22% of Hmong births were to teens (15 to 18 years old), whereas white adolescents represented only one percent of all births to white mothers. Stress of living between the American culture and traditional Hmong culture can contribute to alienation in Hmong youth, breakdown in Hmong families, early marriage, and ill-timed pregnancies. Although much anecdotal evidence exists about Hmong adolescent mothers, very little has been documented. The findings from forty indepth interviews with Hmong adolescent mothers are used to develop a culturally competent, age appropriate curriculum to promote the sexual health of early adolescents in the Hmong community (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)