Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Nufusbilim Dergisi, cilt.15, ss.33-53, 1993 (Scopus)
The population of Turkey was about 50 million in 1985, and the 15-19 age group was 5.5 million, 10.7% of the total population. Almost half of this 5.5 million were females, the mean age at first marriage was 18.2 years and 15.6% of this group were married. The fertility rate of the 15-19 age group was 64.1 per thousand. These figures show that early marriage and early pregnancy are the main problems. The prenatal care in adolescent pregnancies which present high risks for the mother and the child usually starts in the last trimester (average: 7.15 months) and 31.6% of the deliveries take place under unsuitable conditions. The use of contraceptives in this age group is 34.5% (23.4% traditional methods, 11.1% modern methods). The main solution of the problem, that is, adolescent pregnancy, is increasing the age at first marriage. But until this goal is reached, for healthier mothers and children, prenatal care should be given earlier in adolescent pregnancy and deliveries should take place under the supervision of health personnel. (author's)