Applications of the Background and Methodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health

Applications of the Background and Methodology of the Research Process to Problems in Health Care Teenage pregnancy has been an issue in the United States for several decades and continued to increase from the 70’s to the 1990’s. The main focus of the peer-reviewed journal article was the impact or effects it has on the United States socially, economically, and educationally. In this article it reflects the views of one author verses another author, the findings of the first author that the birth rates were higher than in the past, while current author on the subject notated the difference that had evolved over the years causing the increase in teenage pregnancy. As both authors had valid findings but each had to be individualized based on the time period that was taking place. Teenage pregnancy is not like a disease where perhaps you can get some diagnostic testing and began treatment and be cured or take medications that can help to maintain a normal lifestyle. Teenage pregnancy is a great concern for health care administrators to study because it is important to understand why there is an increase in pregnancy and what are the demographics consist of. Teenage pregnancy can result in emotional, economic, and educational cost. Most teenage mothers do not graduate because they now have to take care of their babies and who will pay for the cost. In 2008 tax payers paid and estimated 10 billion dollars as a result of teenage pregnancy.
Study Purpose, Research Question, Hypothesis In the early years of the 50’s and 60’s there were high birth rates of teenagers but during that time it was socially different in that the individuals of that era would get married and the husband would support the family. In later years as decades continue to pass the United States continued to have a fairly high number of teenage pregnancies but now the dynamics had changed. Teenage moms were no longer getting married and were now left with having to find means to support themselves and their babies. By the time the 70’s and 80’s the previous era of early marriage and child bearing which was typical for America had decreased; young women were now part of the work force which somewhat decreased the growing birthrate. This study basically reveals how time and social factors play a great part in how teenage pregnancy at one point and time had no bearing on the United States and as time evolved how teenage pregnancy became a burden on the United States, and the result of the effects it has. What steps have been implemented to improve the decrease in teenage pregnancy and has the implementation proven successful? The hypothesis seems to be that teenagers who live in poverty and single parent households are susceptible to becoming pregnant before completing high school.
Study Variables, Conceptual Model, and Review of Related literature There were two independent variables considered in this study included the age of females under the age of 20 who gave birth. Consequently, this study of teenage pregnancy did not include the study variable of race. A couple of dependent study variables include poverty and single parenting households. Poverty would tend to lead to having a lack of educational reinforcement needed to help the individual teenager make wiser decisions toward sexuality. In addition, single family households usually result in the parent working while having to leave the teenager home alone to take care of themselves; no adult supervision as in a two parent home. The conceptual model used to guide this study seem to be quantitative research where studies were based on statistic from decades from the 1960’s to the 1990’s and caparisons to other countries such as Japan and Western Europe. The literature review supports the need for this study because it allows the reader to understand why there was an increase in teenage pregnancy and how the dynamics of the course of 5 decades can cause a great impact and effect on how teenage pregnancy can become an issue even when the number of teenagers decreased. This article revealed how there can be the exact same situation but can affect America in such a negative way based on the social environment during a particular era.
Study Design The study design that was used in this article is longitudinal; this study consisted of information over 4 to 5 decades using statics from other countries and the National Center for Health Statics. In this particular article on one type of subject was studied and that was females under the age of 20, which for the most part lived in an environment of poverty. Two or the organizations that were studied were the U.S. Bauru of the Census, National Center of Health Statics.
Conclusion
In this article on teen pregnancy there were two views by two different authors but by the end of the article both views were clearly understood. A situation at one particular time may not be an issue due to social economic era but can become major issues as the social economic era evolves. As decades began to take different face, how we as American have to make changes accordingly. Although teenage pregnancy may not have been a big financial issue are burden to the United States in the 50’s and 60’s it certainly has become one now. With the rise in health care cost, it is essential that the United States continue to provide programs and education to all teenagers in the hopes of decreasing teenage pregnancy and negative effects that stem from it.

Reference
Caldas, S. J. (1994). Teen pregnancy: why it remains a serious social, economic, and educational problem in the U.S. Phi Delta Kappan, 75402-406. Retrieved from EBSCO HOST