In comparison to other western European nations, the rates of teenage pregnancies in Britain are relatively higher (Boucher, 2013). Though it could be a positive experience for some teenage girls to enter into motherhood at an early age, previous studies have revealed that in the long term, poor outcomes for both the mother and the child are directly attributable to early motherhood. As a result, the United Kingdom government was prompted to launch the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in the year 1999. The chief aim was to ensure minimization of cases relating to under 18 years’ pregnancies before the year 2010 (Coles & Porter, 2009). Published in 2010, the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Report indicated that up-to and until 2008, a reduction of 13.3% on under 18 pregnancies was reported marking it as the lowest level for more than twenty years (Cherry & Dillon, 2014).
The report also documented the main reasons for reducing early motherhood as reducing future poor outcomes for both the mother and the child as well. The other reason was to reduce the skyrocketing numbers of abortions in Britain by reducing occurrences of unwanted pregnancies. Further researches have also indicated that out of every one hundred girls between the ages of 15 years and 19 years old, an average of 2.9 girl give birth yearly in Britain. A report from the Social Exclusion Unit attributed this high figures to lack of relationships and sex education (Arai, 2009). Centring the debate however is the question whether poor outcomes in the lives of those involved could be possibly reduced by a reduction in the number of early motherhood scenarios. Another question of chief interest is whether early motherhood gives a clean pathway for disadvantages in the future or whether it could be aa predominant indicator of a previously disadvantaged family background.
As a result of deficiency in feasibility of controlled social experiments, studies seeking to dig into the long term effects of teenage motherhood depend on observatory data (Hoffman, 2008). Estimations for negative implications are always based on comparative analyses between outcomes emanating from a teenage mother and those emanating from older mothers. Careful interpretation of these evidences ought to prevail as in majority of cases, measurements only associate teenage pregnancy and outcomes of interest instead of the real causal effect. Use of observational data to establish causation also tends to cause complications. This is usually a result of incidental confounding factors which are absent if data generated emanated from randomised controlled trial. It has also been observed that majority of teenage mothers’ source from backgrounds that are socioeconomically poor. On the contrast, mothers bearing children at an advanced age usually have developed their careers before starting a family. Additionally, tangible evidence indicates that some societal, individual and family traits could act as predisposing factors (Babbie, 2015).
The research will be aiming at seeking answers to several queries. First, an estimate of the total number of teenage mothers in Ipswich and Norwich will be obtained. Socioeconomic background of the teenage mothers will be documented and therefore a relationship between economic strength of families and levels of teenage pregnancies established. The research will also unmask the main causes of teenage motherhood. In relation to this, the predisposing factors will also be unveiled. It will also be possible to establish the population of teenage girls that is at risk of getting pregnant at an early age. Contribution of the male gender towards teenage will be unearthed. Following testimonials from sample teenage mothers, it will be possible to determine the effects and impacts of teenage motherhood on the lives of the teenage mothers themselves, their parents and siblings, the economy and to the society at large. Subsequently, following recommendations, suggestions and views of the sampled population, relevant remedy to the issue will be recommended.
Several categories of people will be incorporated in the research to effect success in data collection (Babbie, 2010). Teenage mothers will be at the heart of the research. To access them, detail about their location will be searched from databases of various hospitals in Ipswich and Norwich. Their selection will be based on their age at the time of birth. Data from various hospitals will also be recorded to identify the number of teenage mothers who deliver their children there. Data is also to be collected from doctors and midwives in the hospital settings to seek their views on teenage motherhood as they have first-hand contact with teenage mothers (Hilton, 2012). It will also be of great relevance to collect data from family members of teenage mothers and find out the implication of the same on family affairs. Another stop will be on various schools within the sampling zone to seek views from education administrators. It is from here that the number of school drop outs due to teenage motherhood will be recoded.
Various methods will be used in collection of qualitative data from the sources named above (Denscombe, 2012). A detailed explanation of the methods is outlined henceforth.
Research interviews can be broadly categorized into three groups; structured interviews, semi-structured interviews and unstructured interviews (Green & Thorogood, 2009). Basically, structured interviews are questionnaires verbally administered. A number of pre-set questions having little or no variation will be asked. They will also have no scope for Further elaboration warranting from responses. Unstructured interviews on the other hand will not display any pre-set ideas or theories. They will be performed based on little or no preparation and will basically involve questions such as, “can you tell me your experience…” The flow will then be based on the first response. These interviews are however time consuming and will require dedication of much time and effort. Lastly, semi structured interviews will comprise of a few chief questions that will aid in defining exploration areas. The interviewer however has room for divergence in pursuance of a certain idea or to seek detailed clarification to a response. Since this approach tends to be more flexible, it will facilitate elaboration and discoverability of details essential to participants but had not been included in the questions.
Prior to conducting an interview, the respondents will have been informed all necessary details regarding the study. Assurance will be given regarding ethical principles majorly confidentiality and anonymity (Bowling, 2014). As a result, the respondents will have developed expectations of the interview and will prepare accordingly for the same. Additionally, the respondents are more likely to be honest and thus contribute to the success of the study.
The interviews will be conducted in disruption-free zones. Location and time of the interview will be selected based on the convenience of the respondent. Rapport will also be established with the participants as such subsequently have a positive effect on interview development.
Before conducting the interview, it will be of great significance that I be in possession of a repertoire of techniques and skills. Such skills will ensure collection of representative and comprehensive data and thus overall productivity of the interview. One of the crucial skills will be the ability to listen attentively so as to give respondents sufficient opportunity to recall past experiences. All the interviews will however be recorded on tape to avoid any kind of biasness and to secure permanent and referable source of what was said or not said.
Focus groups are group discussions basing on a given topic (Crosby, et al., 2011). I will therefore conduct several on them with various groups of sample population basing on the research topic.
The composition of each focus group will be selected with care. The groups to be involved are; school students, school teachers, doctors and midwives. Each group discussion is to be held independently and separately from each other to avoid influence and manipulation of information. Teenage students will however be divided into two based on gender so as to get comprehensive and detailed information from the female participants which they could be reluctant to offer in presence of their male colleagues. Free interaction will be induced to effect proper sourcing of information. Pre-existing groups will be recruited easily and could be handled with less difficulties. In addition, it will be easier for such groups to disclose statuses/information potential of causing stigmatisation
The size of the group will be chosen depending on location and convenience of the of the participants (Bryman, 2016). Eight to ten respondents will be included in each group with a general assumption that two participants will probably not attend. The questions will vary from specific ones to those that are general in nature. The order of questions will be relative to significance of the issues being discussed basing on the agenda of the research.
Questionnaires will be administered to some selected samples of a population so as to gain detailed distribution of attitudes, views and characteristics (Bowling, 2014). The general assumption is that it is possible to accurately measure the information required from the respondents through self-reporting. The questionnaires will entail questions with structured categories for responses. Vigorous examination of the questions will be conducted to check on face-validity, sequence, bias and clarity.
For sample surveys, a standardized format is used in collection of data precisely from a population sample. This method will therefore be embarked on in my research to collect data from large population samples. The major advantage of surveys is that they are effective when studying social areas that sensitive ethically (Crosby, et al., 2011). They will therefore be suitable for this research which is a public welfare topic. The survey results will be used to statistically describe variability of information obtained amongst the whole population (Fink, 2012). The survey will pertain cross sectional measurements that will be conducted at a single point. Analysis of data obtained will however involve quantitative measures.
By undertaking this research proposal, relevant information on causes, impacts and effects of teenage motherhood will be obtained. Further on, the research will be back information displayed in the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Report that is published frequently by the UK government. The research will also be useful to a variety of parties who will include; individual families in Britain, the government, learning institutions, health facilities and counsellors. Teenagers being at the centre of this study will gain crucial information relating to effects and impacts of early motherhood, majority of which are negative. They will subsequently get recommendations on how to evade the challenge. The major benefits to be accrued is that information obtained will show how the categories mentioned above are affected by the findings of the study. The parties will therefore be able to learn on potential remedies on how to curb teenage motherhood and subsequently minimize the many odds that are associated with it. To the larger community, the study will ethical standards as a wide variety of cultures deem teenage motherhood as morally wrong. Researchers conducting similar studies in future will also source a baseline for their studies from my research report.
Conclusion
After conducting the research to conclusion, it will possible to highlight majority of causes, impacts and effects of teenage motherhood. First hand and unbiased data will be availed to end users which will be of great significance to them. I will also have boosted the expertise and competency levels for my own advantage while practicing my profession after fully undertaking the study. Following the heavy weight of the mentioned advantages accruing from the study, its approval will be of importance to all the benefiting categories of the population.
References
Arai, L., 2009. Teenage Pregnancy: The Making and Unmaking of a Problem. s.l.:Policy Press.
Babbie, E. R., 2010. The Basics of Social Research. 4 ed. s.l.:Cengage Learning.
Babbie, E. R., 2015. The Practice of Social Research. 14 ed. s.l.:Cengage Learning.
Boucher, D., 2013. The Big Society in a Small Country. s.l.:Institute of Welsh Affairs.
Bowling, A., 2014. Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services. s.l.:McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Bryman, A., 2016. Social Research Methods. illustrated ed. s.l.:Oxford University Press.
Cherry, A. L. & Dillon, M. E., 2014. International Handbook of Adolescent Pregnancy: Medical, Psychosocial, and Public Health Responses. illustrated ed. s.l.:Springer Science & Business Media.
Coles, L. & Porter, E., 2009. Public Health Skills: A Practical Guide for nurses and public health practitioners. s.l.:John Wiley & Sons.
Crosby, R. A., DiClemente, R. J. & Salazar, L. F., 2011. Research Methods in Health Promotion. illustrated ed. s.l.:John Wiley & Sons.
Denscombe, M., 2012. Research Proposals: A Practical Guide. illustrated ed. s.l.:McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Fink, A., 2012. How to Conduct Surveys: A Step-by-Step Guide: A Step-by-Step Guide. s.l.:SAGE Publications, .
Green, J. & Thorogood, N., 2009. Qualitative Methods for Health Research. reprint ed. s.l.:SAGE.
Hilton, T. L., 2012. Using National Data Bases in Educational Research. s.l.:Routledge.
Hoffman, S. D., 2008. Kids Having Kids: Economic Costs & Social Consequences of Teen Pregnancy. illustrated ed. s.l.:The Urban Insitute.
O’GRADY, S., 2018. Teenage pregnancy rates at their lowest levels since records began in 1969. s.l.:s.n.
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