Background information
The highest number of pregnant women in the United States of America get pregnant, unwillingly, and unplanned. Unwanted pregnancies are common among teenagers and youths age between 18 to 25 years. In most instances, teens are always unmarried. The pregnancies leave them with options of either procuring abortion or having babies at an early age and, in some cases resulting in interruption of both their life and career goals. The effect of unwanted pregnancies extends to kids born out of unintended pregnancies. As a result of unintended pregnancies, children born perform poorer in school than planned ones. In addition to this, both their health and emotional outcomes are also compromised. Unplanned pregnancies were attributed to be a consequence of inconsistent use of contraceptives. Several studies conducted in the past have embarked on shedding some light on the phenomenon. For instance, one of the researches was in a position to identify several factors that inspire or discourage consistency in taking contraceptives. Some of the factors highlighted in the study include the desire to have a baby or not to intend to get pregnant, relationship status such as the married and cohabiting individuals among others. Later, Joanna Reed conducted a further study based on the finding of the previous one. However, Reed’s research was more comprehensive and relied on qualitative data drawn from a sample of 51 unmarried women. The respondent provided their full history of sexual life as well as their patterns of contraception over a long period of time and with all their past and current partners. From the study, five influences were key to determine whether contraceptives were used regularly in occasions when women did not plan to get pregnant. The influences highlighted from her study included efficacy, a woman’s male sex mates’ attitudes towards contraceptive’s such as condoms among others, the duration the relationship lasted, side effects and changes realized upon use of hormonal contraceptives and finally flawed reasoning due to provision of misleading information about their future fertility.
From and her team’s findings, it came out clearly that women who had high efficacy were more likely to use contraceptives regularly than less assertive women. The boosters for effectiveness included the presence of social support from either family or partner. High school students were expected to have low efficacy since they feared judgment from the society for engaging in sex early and therefore ended up lacking access to contraceptives. Women with high potency had the potential to force their men at times while they were not willing to use contraceptives and barrier methods such as condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Additionally, the attitude of the man’s partner towards contraceptives affected the consistency in use. In cases whereby the men were supportive and willing to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they even reminded the ladies to use methods such as pills or condoms. However, in some cases, the men intended to get a baby, and the women were not willing. The men ended up discouraging the women from the consistent use of contraceptives. In cases whereby the relationship between the sexual partners lasted for long, the consistency of using contraceptives was high than the short term relationships whereby by coincident, both partners engaged in sex.
Although sometimes contraceptives result in adverse side effects, with appropriate reasoning resulting from the possession of facts about contraceptives, one can try out different hormonal and non-hormonal methods until they eventually get one that works out well. This results from inconsistency in using contraceptives. However, in cases whereby one lacks facts about contraceptives resulting in faulty thinking, individuals end up using contraceptives consistently and have delays in finding an alternative method in cases whereby one fails.
To address the issue of inconsistency in using contraceptives, this research intends to carry out an experimental test for proposed holistic solutions. The study assumes that the provision of appropriate information about fertility and contraception, as well as having health care providers on due dates of expiry of their current contraception method, would help in increasing consistency. The information is, however, provided to partners who have fallen victims of inconsistent contraceptive users. Another similar group will also act as a control experiment, and they will not be subjected to any change.
THE CURRENT STUDY
Previous researches described the factors which act as a motivation or demotivation for consistency in the use of contraceptives among women unwilling to get pregnant. Reed and her team further conducted qualitative research to identify significant factors which acted as a barrier to regular use of contraceptives among female not planning to get pregnant. The information obtained in both studies is very crucial in designing an appropriate strategy to deal with cases of the inconsistency of using contraceptives among people not intending to get a baby. They facilitate the identification of root causes of the problem, thereby acting as a pave the way for developing appropriate strategies and policies to deal with inconsistency in contraception among women who do not want to get pregnant. An experimental study, therefore, needs to be done between two groups of women and their current partners. Women ought to be victims of using contraception inconsistently even though they do not intend to get pregnant to qualify as part of the respondent to the study. One group, together with their partners will be provided with sex education to eliminate the barrier of misinformation about their fertility, and reminders also send to them through SMS to remind them on the dates they need to return for check up on the progress as well as getting of pills or injections. The other group will not be influenced, and only their consistency will be monitored. The study is based on the assumption that knowledge gives a special power to be a better decision-maker and eventually the individual’s self-esteem is boosted when they are aware of the steps to take in life.
Research Objectives
- To provide contraception history of the respondent from both groups till the end of the study
- To monitor changes inconsistency among the experimental test group
Hypothesis
An increase in the consistency rate of contraception among women who do not intend to get pregnant will be realized among the group that will be reminded on due dates and also provided with reliable reproductive health services unlike among the other group whereby no change is impacted.
METHOD
Our study population will be obtained, comprised of female teenagers who were between the age of 15 to 18 years and who are active sexually. The women have to be from public schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. The reason behind choosing women residing in this region is because they represented the marginalized groups majorly, and those with low incomes and earlier studies had highlighted they were more likely to be victims of using contraceptives irregularly. Individuals must, however, be willing to participate in the survey without coercion based on informed consent and having permission from their parents or guardians.
Data Analysis
The observation method, as well as SPSS (statistical packages for social sciences), which is a software package for interpreting and analyzing coded data, will be used in this study. The software will help in hypothesis testing through the use of inferential statistics and provide graphs to assist in identifying trends of consistency.