Essay

Article # 1

Feldman & Margolis (2016)

APA Citation

Feldman Farb, A., & Margolis, A. L. (2016). The teen pregnancy prevention program (2010-2015): Synthesis of impact findings. American Journal of Public Health 106(51), 509-515.

What is the article about?

This article is a documentation of program evaluation for teen pregnancy prevention. The research is basically a synthesis of the impact findings as they relate to how the pregnancy prevention program can be improved by focusing on performance measures and recommendations advanced by the study.

Why was the research performed?

This research was performed because there are performance issues regarding the effectiveness of teen pregnancy prevention programs. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of existing teen pregnancy prevention programs and use the outcome of the assessment to make recommendations for improvement.

Findings

A number of issues were detected regarding the fit of the current program in tackling the main problem. This assessment was found to be very informative in determining situations where the program is effective and others where they are not effective. The research found out that a lot needs to be done to improve the programs.

Strengths

This study uses a good source of primary data by engaging directly with the programs and collecting performance data. Additionally, there is sufficient depth as with regards to the research evidence offered in support of the recommendations provided.

Weaknesses

The researchers highlighted a problem with their model in which the numerator was too small while the denominator was too large.

Implications for Practice

The implication is that the findings of this study has direct effect on the structure and effectiveness of teen pregnancy prevention programs. It informs these programs on how to update operations for better outcomes.

Key Words

Teen pregnancy, assessment, program, adolescent health, sexual activity

Article # 2

Danieli, Budó, Ressel, & Seiffert (2015)

APA Citation

Danieli, G. L., Budó, M. L. D., Ressel, L. B., & Seiffert, M. A. (2015). Perceptions about pregnancy and health education experiences: perspective of teen pregnancy. Rev Enferm UFPE Online, 9(2), 573-81.

What is the article about?

This research is about evaluating the importance of pregnancy for teenagers and how recognizing their experiences enhances health education.

Why was the research performed?

There has been very little focus in teenage experiences relating to pregnancy. The existence of this void in research and knowledge necessitated a study to promote health education for teens by developing lessons from their experiences.

Findings

From an analysis of experiences, the study found out feelings such as fear, anxiety, happiness and insecurity. The research also found health education offered through lecturers and guidelines insufficient for adolescents with feelings of empowerment and awareness.

Strengths

As a qualitative research, the study derives its strengths from qualitative data in which a Basic Health Unit in southern Brazil was used. The case-study approach used allowed the study to sufficiently interact with teenagers and get first-hand information about their experiences.

Weaknesses

Given that this study focused on a specific region in which teenage experiences are contextualized, the fact that participants were localized in a limited environment affects the ability to generalize the study to apply to teens in other environments.

Implications for Practice

This research will be of direct help to the health unit where it was performed because it sheds light on their struggles and the effect of programs on the experiences of teens. Still, the research is also relevant in other populations because teens share a lot of experiences because of the environments they live in.

Key Words

Pregnancy, feelings, socioeconomic status, health education, experiences

Article # 3

Mangeli, Rayyani, Cheraghi & Tirgari (2017)

APA Citation

Mangeli, M., Rayyani, M., Cheraghi, M. A., & Tirgari, B. (2017). Exploring the challenges of adolescent mothers from their life experiences in the transition to motherhood: a qualitative study. Journal of family & reproductive health, 11(3), 165.

What is the article about?

This article is about the experiences of early motherhood and the health challenge that is a characteristic of developing countries. The study evaluates the implications of early motherhood on children, mothers, communities and families.

Why was the research performed?

This research was performed to characterize the challenges experienced by Iranian adolescent mothers with focus on the experience of motherhood.

Findings

The challenges found in this study include social problems, insufficiency in maternal role, insufficient support and emotional and mental distress among others.

Strengths

As a qualitative study, this research utilized an inductive conventional content analysis approach which is very reliable. Additionally, the research collected data to the point of saturation.

Weaknesses

While the research pursued many different variables, only 16 Iranian teenage mothers participated in the study which is a relatively small sample size.

Implications for Practice

This study promotes knowledge on the experiences of early mothers by going deeper into their lives and revealing their feelings and experiences.

Key Words

Early motherhood, content analysis, ineffectiveness, responsibility, child-care.

Article # 4

Mollborn (2017)

APA Citation

Mollborn, S. (2017). Teenage mothers today: what we know and how it matters. Child development perspectives, 11(1), 63-69.

What is the article about?

This article is a status update on the predicament of teenage mothers today from a practical and research points of view. This is a research study that provides details about the experiences of teenage mothers, what is known through research and what needs to be done.

Why was the research performed?

This research was performed to establish a case for continued research and shifts in policy to not only protect teens from pregnancies, but to also offer a supportive environment for young mothers.

Findings

This was a research review, it established that the depth of knowledge and effectiveness of policies in place are exceedingly wanting. There is need to improve societal knowledge through research and improve the social environment through policies.

Strengths

The main strength of this research is the depth of studies used to inform the inferences made. Being a research review, the study has utilized the most recent studies on the subject to determine trends among teenage mothers today.

Weaknesses

As a research review, it has extensively relied on secondary data. This means that in many instances, it has relied on facts that have been influenced by perspectives as opposed to primary data.

Implications for Practice

This research contributes to the level of awareness and health education about teenage pregnancies and related experiences. It calls for improvements in the socioeconomic environment that teenage mothers live.

Key Words

Teenage mothers, policy, socioeconomic, teenage fertility, societal trends

Article # 5

Kirven (2014)

APA Citation

Kirven, J. (2014). Maintaining Their Future After Teen Pregnancy: Strategies for Staying Physically and Mentally Fit. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 29(1).

What is the article about?

This research is about how teenage mothers can engage coping strategies to keep themselves physically and mentally fit.

Why was the research performed?

This research was performed because adolescents are confronted with varying levels of social pressure and mental torture that impacts their physical and mental health. There is need to communicate strategies that can help them cope and sustain a healthy life after childbearing.

Findings

This research review found out that teenage mothers are not well-informed of strategies they can use to avoid obesity and other physical as well as emotional health effects of teen childbearing.

Strengths

The research is highly descriptive and informative, this ensures that it reaches its audience well.

Weaknesses

This research has failed to adequately illustrate the source of data used or the origin of the recommendations offered as strategies. The research should provide a scientific basis for its strategies.

Implications for Practice

This research can be readily consumed by its target population because it is straightforward and well-structured. Teens can get the information they need quite easily and use it to better their physical and emotional health.

Key Words

Stressors, obesity, coping strategies, risk factors, interventions.

Article # 6

Whitworth (2017)

APA Citation

Whitworth, T. R. (2017). Teen childbearing and depression: do pregnancy attitudes matter?. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(2), 390-404.

What is the article about?

This research is about evaluating how young women’s attitudes influence the relationship between teen childbearing and depression.

Why was the research performed?

This research was performed to show that attitudes held by teens before they become mothers has an effect on depression induced by childbearing. Attitudes have an effect on emotions and psychological health of teen mothers after delivery.

Findings

This research found significant variations as to the manifestation of depressive symptoms among women of different ages. However, the research showed that teens who had negative pregnancy attitudes sustained these depressive symptoms after childbirth.

Strengths

Besides retrieving data from a reliable database, this research conducted a comprehensive literature review on the subject which correctly positioned its contribution to the existing body of research on the subject.

Weaknesses

The first limitation is that the research used participants, some of which were approaching the end of their teen years. Secondly, the research used unreliable wording for pregnancy attitudes.

Implications for Practice

Despite the two limitations, this study will actively inform the structure of programs that prevent teenage pregnancy by recommending a new approach that focuses on their attitudes to promote proper mental health before and after childbirth.

Key Words

Teen childbearing, depression, attitudes.