These researchers examined the prevalence in New Zealand of self-reported pregnancy among sexually experienced high school students, and the association between teenage pregnancy and access to primary health care, using data collected between March and October 2007 at 96 high schools nationwide participating in Youth’07, a Health and Wellbeing survey. A total of 2,620 (1,217 females and 1,403 males) year 9 through 13 students reported ever having sexual intercourse and responded to a question about whether they had ever been pregnant or ever caused a pregnancy. Nationwide, 10.6% of sexually experienced high school students self-reported that they had been pregnant (11.6%) or caused a pregnancy (9.9%). Māori (15.3%) and Pacific Island (14.1%) students had the highest self-reports of pregnancy. Foregone health care was reported by 24.2% of sexually experienced students. Students who self-reported pregnancy reported greater difficulty accessing health care (41.7% vs 20.6%; OR 2.6); however, when they accessed care, the majority received confidential care (67.4%) as compared with pregnancy-inexperienced peers (51.6%). Concern about privacy was the most common reason for not accessing health care. Other barriers included uncertainty about how to access care and lack of transportation (all p values <0.05).
