Teenage Pregnancy in the Central Valley - Annotated Bibliography Example

Teenage Pregnancy in the Central Valley Number Introduction Annotated Bibliography Arai, L. (2009). Teenage Pregnancy: The Making and Unmaking of a Problem. London: The Polity Press. In this book, Arai discusses the essence of teenage pregnancy, so that the magnitude of teenage pregnancy. Arai discusses the factors that have exacerbated the problem that is teenage pregnancy and enlists a stiff and narrow-scoped educational curriculum, the relational gap between parents and teenage children and the incrimination of teenagers’ access to contraceptives. Arai is of the idea that the way out of the problem of teenage pregnancy is by looking at the very factors that act as the cause of the problem. This involves reevaluating the school curriculum and expanding it, so that sex education and the use of contraceptives, working on parent-teenage children relations through the strengthening of family values and liberalizing access to contraceptives by teenagers. Chambers, S. & Wakley, G. (2001). Tackling Teenage Pregnancy: Sex, Culture and Needs. London: Radcliffe Medical Press. In this book, Chambers and Wakley devote their effort to finding long-term solutions to teenage pregnancy. The duo insist that there cannot be a proper solution to the menace of unwanted teenage pregnancy, if the cause of the same is not analyzed, just as it is impossible to effectively treat an illness without the provisions of diagnoses. Chambers and Wakley point out at the inherent sexual drive among teenagers, the disparity between the liberal culture [towards sex and morality] and the restrictive culture [which forbids teenagers from accessing contraceptives] and the actual need for these contraceptives. Chambers and Wakley find great use of qualitative research from secondary sources such as journals, newspaper articles and books. Because of this, authorities in the field of education, reproductive health and sociology are extensively cited. Farber, N. (2009). Adolescent Pregnancy: Policy and Prevention Services. New York: Springer Publishing Company. In this book, Farber seeks to address the main underpinnings [according to him] of the problem of teenage pregnancy. He identifies them as government policy and the extent of preventive services that have been put in place to check against teenage pregnancy. According to Farber, government policy is to blame as a harbinger of unwanted pregnancy. For instance, Farber sees government policy as being an impediment, through its incrimination of teenagers’ access to contraceptives. Farber points out that while the government thinks that it is parrying away the dangers and possibility of teenage sex by keeping teenagers away from contraceptives, the truth of the matter is that such measures expose teenagers to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] and unwanted pregnancies, since condoms and morning-after pills are kept away from teenagers’ reach. He then draws out spates of measures that should be made to reverse the situation. Cultivating awareness among adolescents, creating clinical centers for adolescents and the reviewing government policies are some of the proposals that Farber brings to the table as a possible panacea to teenage pregnancy. Farber extensively uses qualitative research and as such, he extensively considers journal articles, books and newspaper articles that discuss government policy on teenagers’ sexual behavior and pregnancy, to underscore his standpoint. Goldwin, P. (2009). A Comprehensive Approach to Teenage Pregnancy and STD Infections. New York: McGraw Hill. In this book, Goldwin comprehensively discusses the problem of teenage pregnancy by looking at different approaches and different causes of teenage pregnancy. For instance, Goldwin looks at the manner in which the capitalist system as an economic model conspires against the entire society through its structures. The exclusion of teenagers from the workforce for instance means that the same group is bereft of purchasing power and cannot therefore make its own decisions. Instead, such teenagers are left in the hands of their parents’ whims, even as they engage in sex. Again, the capitalist system places emphasis on the individual, in lieu of the society, so that teenagers are left without meaningful moral support. Goldwin’s work is as a result of personal reflection and observation of the American society. However, he also makes use of secondary sources of information such as books and academic journals to support his theoretical standpoint. Hilgate, H. & Holgate, H. S. (2006). Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood: Global Perspectives, Issues and Interventions. New York: Taylor & Francis. Hilgate and Holgate discuss teenage pregnancy as a culmination of global trends and teenage-parents relations. They observe that supportive parenting is less amenable to cases of teenage pregnancy and unwanted diseases, due to the moral support that adolescents draw therefrom. Globalization, the spread of liberalism and even the liberalization of the media are some of the factors that exacerbate the challenge of teenage pregnancy. Hilgate and Holgate contend that the problem of teenage pregnancy remains a formidable challenge since it has global undercurrents, yet interventions against it are limited to state initiatives. Hilgate and Holgate use both quantitative and qualitative research to lend their standpoints, credence. They consider statistical data from around the world, and between supportive and less supportive parents to draw relations with spates of teenage pregnancy. Secondary sources of qualitative data are also used to explain the data. Leishman, J. (2007). Pre-Teen and Teenage Pregnancy: A 21st Century Reality. New York: Prentice Hall. Leishman in this book looks at the scope of teenage pregnancy in 21st century. He maintains that unlike other ages, the 21st century exhibits higher cases of teenage pregnancy because of modernization and its forces such as an ultra-developed and liberal media and information and communication technology, the rise of individualism instead of familism, the growth of secularism and higher costs of living. Leishman finds great companionship in his research where he uses secondary sources extensively. He cites scholars and policy makers in the government, the international community and policies arrived at by key international agencies such as the World Health Organization [under the aegis of the UN] to underscore his standpoint. Macleod, I. C. (2010). Adolescence, Pregnancy & Abortion: Constructing a Threat of Degeneration: Women & Psychology. New York/ London: Taylor and Francis. This book remains critically important to the study, on the account that in it, Macleod discusses the reality of the three related issues: adolescence, pregnancy, and abortion. In this book, Macleod argues that the dangers of teenage sexuality cannot be effectively tackled when treated independent of adolescence and sexuality. Macleod points out that other factors such as funding, the school curriculum [how it is effective in inculcating awareness] and psychology determines the extent of the problem at hand. Macleod uses secondary sources of information such as books and journal articles to support his standpoint. Roles, P. (2005). Facing Teenage Pregnancy: A Handbook for Pregnant Teen. Los Angeles: CWLA Press. In this book, Roles discusses the approaches that should be made to tackle teenage pregnancy. Roles points out that proper counseling centers and services, not just contraceptives, should be in place to help the expectant teenager. The counseling should include teaching the expectant teenager on the repercussions that come with each consequence. There should also be a physician helping forming a chain with the teenager, her parents and the counselor to help in the arrival of the most feasible decision, as early as possible. Roles uses both primary [case studies that have been handled and noted down by healthcare institutions] and secondary sources of information [books and journals that contain scholars’ and experienced professionals’ points of view] to support his postulation. Rose, P. (2010). Cultural Competency for Health Administration and Public Health. London/New York: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. This book remains important to this study, since in it, Rose discusses cultural practices and professional standards that shape the way teenage pregnancies are handled. While appreciating the sacrosanct nature of the three-fold cord [parents, the expectant teenager and the representative of the healthcare services institution] to be used to handle teenage pregnancy, Rose contends that the three-fold cord at times fails to deliver, especially due to straining parent-teenager relations. She also points the ethical and legal dilemma in the matter, since making medical arrangements as serious as the use of contraceptives and abortion with a teenager, outside parents’ knowledge is highly controversial. Rose recommends that addressing the ethical and legal issues is the best solution to the dilemma. Rose cites statistical provisions used by researchers who delved into a similar research before her, and also refers to qualitative data to strengthen her standpoint. Watson, S. (2005). Reality Therapy: A Workable Approach for Adolescents. Los Angeles: iUniverse Publishing. Watson in this book points out the measures that should be put in place to help handle teenage pregnancy. He points out that counseling services, contraceptives and a competent physicians must grace health care institutions that provide these services to adolescents with their presence. Watson argues that there should also be a liaison with manufacturers of the contraceptives, to help demonstrate the use of the contraceptives elaborately, and with maximum effectiveness. Watson uses unique cases to point out the relevance of involving parents, following legal and ethical complications which may characterize a particular situation. Watson uses both primary and secondary data to strengthen his argument. The case reports in healthcare organization’s databases are the primary sources of information that he considers, while the opinion and views that have been mentioned in related literature form secondary literature. References Arai, L. (2009). Teenage Pregnancy: The Making and Unmaking of a Problem. London: The Polity Press. Chambers, S. & Wakley, G. (2001). Tackling Teenage Pregnancy: Sex, Culture and Needs. London: Radcliffe Medical Press. Farber, N. (2009). Adolescent Pregnancy: Policy and Prevention Services. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Goldwin, P. (2009). A Comprehensive Approach to Teenage Pregnancy and STD Infections. New York: McGraw Hill. Hilgate, H. & Holgate, H. S. (2006). Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood: Global Perspectives, Issues and Interventions. New York: Taylor & Francis. Leishman, J. (2007). Pre-Teen and Teenage Pregnancy: A 21st Century Reality. New York: Prentice Hall. Macleod, I. C. (2010). Adolescence, Pregnancy & Abortion: Constructing a Threat of Degeneration: Women & Psychology. New York/ London: Taylor and Francis. Roles, P. (2005). Facing Teenage Pregnancy: A Handbook for Pregnant Teen. Los Angeles: CWLA Press. Rose, P. (2010). Cultural Competency for Health Administration and Public Health. London/New York: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Watson, S. (2005). Reality Therapy: A Workable Approach for Adolescents. Los Angeles: iUniverse Publishing. Read More