Black Teenage Fathers: What Happens When the Child Is Born?

This study explored the changes in the lives of teenage fathers, from prenatally to 9 and 18 months postpartum, and compared them to a group of nonfather peers. At 18 months postpartum, more fathers were heads of households and fewer were still in school, although there were no differences in employment status. Although only 7.5% of the teenage parents were married, 37% lived together or had daily contact; only three had contact less often than weekly. In the 18 months since the first interview, there was a decrease in contact in 34%, an increase in contact in 19%, and no change in the frequency of contact in 46%. Two thirds of teenage fathers stayed with the mother during labor and 25% were in the delivery room. Only one father had no contact with his child 18 months later; 12% lived with the child and 25% saw the child daily. The most common reasons for not living with the child were that the baby was too young, finances, and problems in the relationship with the woman. This study demonstrates that the fathers appeared to suffer few adverse consequences of teenage pregnancy. However, the majority of fathers continued to be involved in the lives of the mother and child, and we believe they should be included in programs for teenage parents and their children.