Analysis of Article about Pregnancy and Protection of Australian Female Adolescents by Skinner - Term Paper Example

Analysis of Research article Introduction: The rates of teenage pregnancy have been falling all over the world since 1996 and sex education for young people may be the reason for this decline. But as the authors, Skinner et al (2009) of the research article “Pregnancy and protection: perception, attitudes and experiences of Australian adolescent females” point out, Australia also demonstrates this trend with births and abortions falling but the decline is not as marked or to the level that it has developed in western Europe. This has led to increases in the call for condoms and morning after pills to be handed out in schools. In explaining the background and motivation that led them to take up this research study, the authors point out that despite several years of research that have been undertaken into teenage pregnancy and the development of educational and other strategies to cope with the problem and reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy, the overall understanding of which strategies are effective and why is very low. As a result, the objective of the study was to explore the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of use of contraceptives among teenagers and to assess how such perceptions and attitudes influenced the extent of risk of pregnancy. Analysis of the study: The title of the study is: “Pregnancy and protection: perceptions, attitudes and experiences of Australian female adolescents”. According to the Abstract, the objective of the study was to explore how teenage perceptions and attitudes towards contraception influenced the risk of pregnancy. Therefore, the title appears to be well chosen and relevant to the actual subject matter of the study. The method is described as a qualitative approach by interviewing sixty-eight Australian adolescents in the age group of 14 to 19 years, drawn primarily from three sub-groups: (a) pregnant teens who were continuing with it (b) pregnant teens who were choosing to abort and (c) never pregnant teens. The data was subjected to thematic analysis. The results demonstrated that despite familiarity with contraception, teens used it inconsistently and their attitude towards it fluctuated in different contexts such as romantic relationships. This research study has not presented a separate introductory paragraph, followed by the detailing of findings of other researchers as a part of the literature review. Rather, the introductory material and literature review are combined and the authors start off with various figures related to teen pregnancy, for instance that the Australian teen pregnancy rate is about 16 per 100 per year. This statistical information is then followed up with a description of the findings from various research studies, pointing out at the outset that the crux of most of the research carried out hitherto seems to be to understand the underlying causes and consequences of pregnancy. The authors point out that this may not be a correct premise because at best, it can only provide a conceptual basis to understand how teen pregnancy can be prevented. On this basis, the authors then assess several other research studies which suggest that the problem of teen pregnancy may not necessarily be viewed as a problem by the teens themselves. They point out that these researchers appear to assume that adolescents always want to avoid pregnancy and conceive unintentionally. But subsequent research evidence has increasingly shown that teen control over contraceptive behaviour is the strongest indicator of pregnancy outcomes. On this basis the authors build up their argument that despite the link between contraceptive behaviour and pregnancy, the factors that influence sexual and reproductive choices of teenagers remains unclear. They build on the suggestion inherent in some studies that teen attitude towards conception could influence their behaviour and thereby function as a deterrent to pregnancy. The analysis of the literature review presented by Skinner et al (2009) in the study is brief but has captured all the salient points that are necessary to build up to their argument and point to the conclusion that it is teen attitude that may play a significant role in influencing pregnancy outcomes. The background motivation for the study is the differential in the pregnancy rates between Western Europe and Australia, i.e, why Australian teen pregnancy rates are still considerably higher as compared to their Western counterparts. The sources cited in the literature review which suggest that teen attitudes may influence their control over conception are primarily studies that have been carried out in the United States. Therefore, Skinner et al (2009) have identified the gap in the research carried out in Australia; i.e, while there are plenty of figures available on Australian teen pregnancy rates and the adverse impact of teen pregnancy, there is less research undertaken into what influences contraceptive behaviour. On the strength of the findings of researchers that the actual predictor of pregnancy outcomes is teen conception practices and their related conduct, Skinner et al (2009) have been able to identify the need for such studies and pinpoint the subject of their research study, i.e, the attitudes of Australian teens to pregnancy and contraception. They justify the basis of their research study by arguing that existing survey research fails to identify the “dynamic nature of contraceptive use in different contexts and over time.” (Skinner et al, 2009: 51). The research design chosen for this study is the qualitative interview method. The selection of this method appears to be well justified, because subjective attitudes are being explored and these are difficult to quantify numerically. The sampling method used is convenience sampling, but it may be justified in this study in order to obtain an adequate number of representative participants from each of the three sub groups that were examined in the study. These subgroups were (a) those teenagers who were actually pregnant and were planning to continue with it (b) those teenagers who were pregnant and were planning to abort their babies and (c) those teenagers who had never been pregnant. This method of sampling ensured that aboriginal teens were also participants in the study, thereby enabling assessments to be made about how a teen’s background might influence their attitudes to and decisions about contraception. The study was confined to Perth in Western Australia. This is advantageous to the study and a limitation at the same time. An advantage because it enables the collection of a solid base of data from one particular area and thereby enables a more meaningful analysis. But this is also a limitation, i.e., since the sample is restricted to a single area, its application to the general population may be limited, more so because random sampling is not the method which has been used to identify participants in the study. This research study appears to satisfy the ethical requirements in a study because teenagers were specifically questioned about their willingness to participate in it. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, it was necessary to ensure absolute confidentiality and Skinner et al (2009) have ensured this confidentiality by waiving the need to obtain ethical consent from parents in carrying out this study. The interview method selected for this study is also appropriate because it provides an adequate amount of time and opportunity to thoroughly examine the attitudes, thoughts and feelings that teenagers have towards contraception. The findings in this study were presented under two headings: pregnancy and protection, with each of the three sub groups being examined on their attitudes to both. The use of thematic analysis is especially relevant in this study because trends in group data and emerging patterns could be identified simultaneously with the collection of data. The authors have grouped the responses under six different categories. Those who had never been pregnant did so because they perceived it as a barrier to their freedom, i.e., “A baby – no way!” Those who terminated their pregnancy had similar negative views, i.e., “Not my reality”. Those teens who became pregnant had the attitude of “If it happens, it happens.” This reflects a clear disparity in attitude depending upon which group the teenager belonged to. Where protection is concerned, those teens who were not pregnant were consistent users of contraception because they did not want to get pregnant, i.e., they were “taking control” of their lives. Those who had become pregnant and terminated their pregnancy demonstrated an inconsistent use of contraceptive measures because they “always forgot”. Those who became pregnant anyway had a sceptical attitude towards pregnancy and were of the view that they don’t always work or develop holes, etc. The clear categorization and grouping of responses among these six groups has enabled the researchers to clearly separate the responses and identify the varying attitudes of the different groups. The discussion section of the research study has also been set out well, because it integrates the findings in the study with the results of prior research, which has shown that teenagers engage in risky behaviour because they feel they have less vulnerability and are less complacent about potential consequences, which was also borne out in this study. It has also applied theoretical approaches in analyzing the findings. For instance, Gage’s conceptual framework, which sets out the “criteria for effectiveness” paradigm has been applied in the context of adolescent reproductive choices. This suggests that teenage motivation to use contraception varies according to its perceived advantages and disadvantages, in terms of costs and benefits they receive. Depending upon the meaning and expectations associated with pregnancy, teenagers respond accordingly. For example, teenagers who view pregnancy and childbearing in a negative way are likely to be positive about contraception. On the other hand, those with a positive or ambivalent attitude to childbearing had a lower motivation to use contraceptives. The data that was derived from the study however, did not merely supplement the findings in earlier studies; it also demonstrated an existing differential between the perceptions of adolescents about pregnancy vis a vis their contraceptive practices depending upon the costs and convenience associated with the contraceptive devices. For instance, when teenagers perceived certain contraceptive measures to be difficult or inconvenient to use, or more expensive to use, they were less likely to use them or exercised less care in their use. The authors also found that contraceptive use was dependent on context, for instance decisions made about contraception varied in accordance with romantic expectations or the degree to which adolescents were drunk. These are two important aspects that emerged from this study and the authors have discussed how the costs and convenience of using contraceptive devices may play a significant role in pregnancy outcomes in teenagers. Application, implications and recommendations: The study by Skinner et al (2009) is very significant, especially in the Australian context, because it has highlighted how teen attitude towards pregnancy and contraception may be influenced by the cost and convenience of using contraceptives. In this aspect, it builds upon the results from earlier studies which have suggested that teen attitude towards pregnancy and contraception may influence pregnancy outcomes. Since the percentage of teen pregnancy in Australia is higher than those in western countries, it provides an inference that the cost of contraceptives and the convenience associated with their use may influence teenagers in Australia. However this finding is also significant in the context of the greater population in other western countries as well, because it belies the existing perception that teen pregnancies arise only because of reduced perception of risk by teens. These findings in this study have also shown how teen pregnancy outcomes are also dependent upon the context in which it occurs. It serves to explain why teens who do not normally wish to become pregnant or may be ambivalent about it tend to face a pregnancy. This finding could also be relevant in the broader context. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study accentuate the importance of teen attitude in influencing pregnancy outcomes. They especially highlight teen attitude toward contraceptives as an important factor determining how effectively they will be used to prevent a pregnancy. In the Australian context in particular, it could therefore be worthwhile providing teenagers with better contraceptive options, which they will find easy and convenient to use. This could produce a more positive attitude toward contraceptives as well as exercising greater care in their use. References: Skinner, Rachel S, Smith, Jennifer, Fenwick, Jennifer, Hendricks, Jacqueline, Fyfe, Sue and Kendall, Garth, 2009. “Pregnancy and protection: perception, attitudes and experiences of Australian adolescent females”, Women and Birth, 22, 50-56 Read More