CLINICAL STUDIES
Factors Influencing Teenage Mothers’ Participation in Unprotected Sex

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.1999.tb02022.xGet rights and content

Objective

To study the values, beliefs, and lived experiences of 8 teenage mothers who participated in unprotected sex at the time their babies were conceived, in order to enhance understanding of adolescent sexual behavior from a nursing science perspective.

Design

A qualitative, heuristic approach that subscribed to the basic tenets of descriptive phenomenology, in which teenagers were allowed to discuss in their own words the sentiments, opinions, ideologies, and intentions that affected their sexual decision-making.

Setting

Data collection consisted of a series of audiotaped interviews conducted by the researcher in the participants' homes over an 8-week period from November 1997 through January 1998.

Participants

A convenience sample of 8 teenage mothers who met the inclusion criteria for having participated in unprotected sex at the time of conception, recruited from a facility specializing in education, support, and intervention for teenage parents.

Main Outcome Measures

Thematic analysis of transcribed text began once the first interview was completed and continued throughout the data collection process. The process included open coding of key words and phrases, bracketing out conventional knowledge, and immersion in the data in order to identify prevalent and recurring themes.

Results

Results are reported in terms of the six prevalent themes that emerged from the interview data relevant to factors which contributed to the teenagers' participation in unprotected sexual intercourse: Desiring Pregnancy, Handing It Over to Fate, Lacking a Plan, Doubting the Chances, Fearing Harm, and Fearing Loss.

Conclusions

Key themes identified in this study represent a foundational step in achieving a more cogent view of the issues involved in adolescent sexual decision-making. Awareness of these experiences and intentions can be used to enhance meaningful interaction between adolescents and the health care system as well as to serve as a resource in the development and implementation of programs designed to prevent adolescent pregnancy. Further studies are required before specific practice applications can be identified. JOGNN, 28, 493–500; 1999.

Section snippets

Literature Review

Most teenage pregnancies occur between the ages of 15 and 17 (Jackson et al., 1996, McAnarney and Sahler, 1981, Stevens-Simon, 1993). These years constitute the second stage of adolescence (McAnarney & Sahler, 1981). During this stage, teenagers have had an opportunity to become acclimated to their bodies and new roles in society and are characteristically defiant and self-centered. Most are caught up in the “personal fable of omnipotence,” the “it-can’t- happen-to-me” syndrome (Newman &

Research Design

Because it is important in qualitative research to collect data that are as accurate and as pure a reflection of the participants’ lived experience as possible, no attempt was made to structure the inquiry or the responses beyond the initial research question. Qualitative researchers approach data collection by closely examining examples, observations, and reports of the phenomena in question as they occur in everyday life. Data are then organized into a cohesive whole, and a thorough

Data Analysis

Thematic analysis of transcribed text began after the first interview and continued throughout the process (Boyd and Munhall, 1993, Carpenter and Streubert, 1995, Field and Morse, 1995). Time of completion for thematic analysis was an additional 4 weeks. Three crucial steps involved in phenomenologic thematic analysis (Field & Morse, 1995) were undertaken as follows.

Findings

Six prevalent themes were identified from the interview data. Each of these is presented below with examples and quotes from the individual narratives.

Discussion

There is an increased need for understanding the needs, fears, priorities, and world view of pregnant or parenting adolescents. The key themes identified here represent a foundational step in achieving a more cogent view of the issues involved in adolescent decision-making. Clearly, themes such as desiring pregnancy, handing it over to fate, fearing loss, and skepticism that pregnancy would occur suggest mind-sets that may be difficult to change through improved access to and increased

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    Copyright © 1999 AWHONN, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.