Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescent Pregnancy in France

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
International Handbook of Adolescent Pregnancy

Abstract

In France, there is widespread agreement that adolescence is not a good time to become a parent, a state the French believe is reserved for adults (i.e., individuals who have acquired their residential, economic, and emotional independence from their family). Motherhood at a young age is thus seen as a hindrance to the personal development of adolescent girls. While teen pregnancy was first considered to be a “medical risk” in the 1970s–1980s, adolescent pregnancy today is considered “a psycho-social risk.” Yet, the demographic indicators show a marked decrease in pregnancies since the 1970s among French adolescents. Births to adolescents 18 years of age and younger decreased by 60 % between 1980 and 1997, and represented about 0.6 % of all live births in 1997 compared with 1.3 % in 1980. In 2011, the births to adolescents 18 years of age or younger accounted for only 0.3 % of total live births in France. The prevalence of pregnancies among adolescent girls is in the order of 30 per 1,000, holding steady since the mid-1990s. The sudden drop in the fertility rate of young people since the 1970s in France seems to be explained by a combination of several factors: the democratization of higher education and the presence of women in the workforce. Employment provides young women the opportunity to acquire a new social status. France is evolving through a phase of high social mobility, a phase that started with the “May 1968” formation of the Mouvement de libération des femmes (Women’s Liberation Movement, or MLF). The approval of laws legalizing contraception and abortion was victory of this movement, which enabled women to plan their maternity and families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Interview with Jeannette Bougrab: Ados enceintes, Jeannette Bougrab sonne l'alarme, published in lepoint.fr the February, 16th, 2010.

  2. 2.

    Discourse of Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, Minister of Health, Youth and Sports for the Women International Day, Mesures en faveur de la prévention et de la prise en charge des grossesses non désirées, Paris, March, 8th, 2010.

  3. 3.

    Source: Insee, Bilan démographique 2011.

  4. 4.

    The Code Napoleon (1804) considers women as minors under the guardianship of their father, then their husband. In 1965 they won the right to manage their property, open a bank account, to practice a profession without the permission of their husband (or father).

References

  • Adamson, P., Brown, G., Micklewright, J., & Wright, A. (2001). A league table of teenage births in rich nations. Innocenti report card. Italy: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajos, N., Bohet, A., Le Guen, M., & Moreau, C. (2012, September). Contraception in France: New context, new practices? Population and Societies, 492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajos, N., & Durand, S. (2001). Teenage sexual and reproductive behavior in developed countries: Country report for France (Vol. Occasional Report). New York: AGI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajos, N., & Ferrand, M. (2001). L’avortement à l’âge de raison. Mouvements, 17(4), 99–105. doi:10.3917/mouv.017.0099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bajos, N., Ferrand, M., Bachelot, A., Vatin, F., & Hassoun, D. (2002). Accès au système de soins et expérience vécue de l’IVG. In M. Ferrand, N. Bajos, T.G. Group (Ed.), De la contraception à l’avortement: Sociologie des grossesses non prévues (pp. 163–204). Inserm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajos, N., Leridon, H., Goulard, H., Oustry, P., Job-Spira, N., & The COCON Group (2003). Contraception: From accessibility to efficiency. Human Reproduction, 18(5), 994–999. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deg215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajos, N., Moreau, C., Leridon, H., & Ferrand, M. (2004, December). Why has the number of abortions not declined in France over the past 30 years? Population and Societies, 407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beltzer, N., & Bajos, N. (2008). De la contraception à la prévention: les enjeux de la négociation aux différentes étapes des trajectoires affectives et sexuelles. In N. Bajos, & M. Bozon (Eds.), Enquête sur la sexualité en France: pratiques, genre et santé (pp. 437–460). Paris La Découverte.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthoud, R., & Robson, K. (2001). The outcomes of teenage motherhood in Europe. Innocenti Working Paper No. 86. Florence: UNICEF/Innocenti Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blayo, C. (1995). L’évolution du recours à l’avortement en France depuis 1976. Population, 55(3), 779–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blayo, Y. (1975). La proportion de naissances illégitimes en France de 1740 à 1829. Population, 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozon, M. (1993). L’entrée dans la sexualité adulte: le premier rapport et ses suites. Population, 1317–1352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozon, M. (2008). Premier rapport sexuel, première relation: des passages attendus. In N. Bajos & M. Bozon (Eds.), Enquête sur la sexualité en France: pratiques, genre et santé (pp. 117–147). Paris La Découverte.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozon, M. (2009a). Autonomie sexuelle des jeunes et panique morale des adultes: Le garçon sans frein et la fille responsable. Agora débats/jeunesse 60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozon, M. (2009b). Jeunesse et sexualité (1950–2000). De la retenue à la responsabilité de soi. In L. Bantigny & I. Jabkonka (Eds.), Jeunesse oblige. Histoire des jeunes en France (XIXème-XXème siècle) (pp. 225–243). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozon, M., & Le Van, C. (2008). Orientations en matière de sexualité et cours de la vie. Diversification et recomposition. In N. Bajos, M. Bozon & N. Beltzer (Eds.), Enquête sur la sexualité en France: pratiques, genre et santé (pp. 529–543). Paris: La découverte.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brouard, N., & Kafé, H. (2000, October). Comment ont évolué les grossesses chez les adolescentes depuis 20 ans? Population et Sociétés, 361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calot, G. (1984). La mesure des taux en démographie: taux par âge en années révolues et taux par âge atteint dans l’année. Présentation d’un cahier de l’INED. Population, 39(1), 107–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donati, P., Cèbe, D., & Bajos, N. (2002). Interrompre ou poursuivre la grossesse? Construction de la décision. In N. Bajos, M. Ferrand & The GINE Group (Eds.), De la contraception à l’avortement: Sociologie des grossesses non prévues (pp. 115–162). Inserm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durand, S., Ferrand, M., & Bajos, N. (2002). Accès à la contraception et recours à l’IVG chez les jeunes femmes. In N. Bajos, M. Ferrand & The GINE group (Eds.), De la contraception à l’avortement: sociologie des grossesses non prévues (pp. 249–302).

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, O. (1996). L’entrée dans la vie adulte en France. Bilan et perspectives sociologiques. Sociologie et sociétés, 28(1), 37–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galland, O. (2004). Sociologie de la jeunesse. Paris: Armand Collin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hajnal, J. (1965). European marriage patterns in perspective. In D.V. Glass & D.E.C. Eversley (Eds.), Population in history (pp. 101–146). London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halfen, S., Fenies, K., Ung, B., & Gremy, I. (2006). Les connaissances, attitudes, croyances et comportements face au VIH/sida aux Antilles et en Guyane en 2004. ANRS-ORS Île de France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, L. (1978). Fécondité des mariages dans le quart Sud-Est de la France de 1670 à 1829. Population, 33(4–5), 855–883.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houdaille, J., & Henry, L. (1973). Fécondité des mariages dans le quart nord-ouest de la France de 1670 à 1829. Population, 28(4–5), 873–924.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houdaille, J., & Henry, L. (1979). Célibat et âge au mariage aux XVIIIe et XIXe siècles en France. II. Age au premier mariage. Population, 34(2), 403–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Den, M. (2012). Les indicateurs des grossesses à l’adolescence en France. Enjeux et modalités de leur mobilisation dans la mise en place d’une politique de prévention. Sciences Sociales Et Sante, 30(1), 85–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Van, C. (1998). Les Grossesses à l’adolescence: normes sociales, réalités vécues. France: L’Harmattan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leridon, H. (1998). Les Enfants du désir: une révolution démographique: Hachette Littératures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazuy, M., Prioux, F., & Barbieri, M. (2011). Recent demographic developments in France. Population-E, 66(3–4), 423–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministère de la Santé et des Sports. (2010). Plan national de lutte contre le VIH/sida et les IST 2010–2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, M., & Casterline, J. (1996). Social learning, social influence, and new models of fertility. Population and Development Review, 22(Supplement: Fertility in the United States: New Patterns, New Theories), 151–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreau, C., Trussell, J., Desfreres, J., & Bajos, N. (2010a). Patterns of contraceptive use before and after an abortion: Results from a nationally representative survey of women undergoing an abortion in France. Contraception, 82(4), 337–344. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2010.03.011.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreau, C., Trussell, J., Desfreres, J., & Bajos, N. (2010b). Peri-abortion contraceptive use in the French islands of Guadeloupe and La Reunion: variation in the management of post-abortion care. The European Journal of Contraception And Reproductive Health Care: The Official Journal of the European Society of Contraception, 15(3), 186–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mossuz-Lavau, J. (1991). Les Lois de L’amour: Les Politiques de la Sexualité en France de 1950 à 1990. Paris: Payot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paicheler, G. (2002). Prévention du sida et agenda politique: les campagnes en direction du grand public, 1987–1996. Paris: CNRS éditions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pison, G. (2010, March). France 2009: Mean age at childbearing reaches 30 years. Population and Societies, 465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pison, G. (2012, June). Adolescent fertility is declining worldwide. Population and Societies, 490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prioux, F. (2003). L’âge à la première union en France une évolution en deux temps. Population, 58(4–5), 623–644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prioux, F., & Mazuy, M. (2009). Recent demographic developments in France: Tenth anniversary of the PACS civil partnership, and over a million contracting parties. Population, 64(3), 393–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossier, C., & Pirus, C. (2007). Estimating the number of abortions in France, 1976–2002. Population, 62(1), 57–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossier, C., Toulemon, L., & Prioux, F. (2009). Abortion trends in France, 1990–2005. Population, 64(3), 443–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sihvo, S., Bajos, N., Ducot, B., & Kaminski, M. (2003). Women’s life cycle and abortion decision in unintended pregnancies. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57(8), 601–605. doi:10.1136/jech.57.8.601.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Temporal, F., Marie, C.-V., Bernard, S., & Grieve, M. (2011). Labour Market Integration of Young People from the French Overseas Départements: At Home or in Metropolitan France? Population, 66(3–4), 473–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toulemon, L. (2008). Entre le premier rapport et la première union: des jeunesses encore différentes pour les femmes et les hommes. In N. Bajos, M. Bozon, & N. Beltzer (Eds.), Enquête sur la sexualité en France: pratiques, genre et santé (pp. 163–195). Paris: La découverte.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilain, A. (2011, Juin). Les Interruptions volontaires de grossesse en 2008 et 2009. Etude et Résultats, 765.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellings, K., Collumbien, M., Slaymaker, E., Singh, S., Hodges, Z., Patel, D., et al. (2006). Sexual behaviour in context: A global perspective. The Lancet, 368(9548), 1706–1728. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69479-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health CESP–INSERM U 1018, 82, rue du Général Leclerc, 94276, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France

    Mireille Le Guen & Nathalie Bajos

Authors
  1. Mireille Le Guen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nathalie Bajos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nathalie Bajos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

    Andrew L. Cherry

  2. University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA

    Mary E. Dillon

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Le Guen, M., Bajos, N. (2014). Adolescent Pregnancy in France. In: Cherry, A., Dillon, M. (eds) International Handbook of Adolescent Pregnancy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8026-7_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8026-7_16

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-8025-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-8026-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation