Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2015 Impact of Environmental and Individual Risk Factors on Pregnant and Parenting Teenagers Lakeasha Thrasher Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Health Education and Promotion Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Health Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Lakeasha Thrasher has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Mary Lou Gutierrez, Committee Chairperson, Public Health Faculty Dr. Paige Wermuth, Committee Member, Public Health Faculty Dr. Rodney Bowden, University Reviewer, Public Health Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2015 Abstract Impact of Environmental and Individual Risk Factors on Pregnant and Parenting Teenagers by Lakeasha S. Thrasher MPA, Albany State University, 2003 BS, Albany State University, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University August 2015 Abstract Teenage pregnancy is both a social and a public health problem in the United States, with approximately 750,000 young women between the ages of 15 and 19 becoming pregnant each year. In addition, teen pregnancy is more prevalent in the African American (15%) and Hispanic (14%) communities than it is in White communities (5%). The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors contributing to teen pregnancy among racially diverse teenagers 15 to 19 years of age living in the rural south. This study, guided by social cognitive theory, used a quantitative, cross-sectional research design to determine whether living environment, educational resources, and access to healthcare impact risk of teenage pregnancy. A quantitative survey assessed factors such as sex-related attitudes, parent/peer communication, living environment, and educational attainment. Two primary research questions and 8 related hypotheses were formulated for investigation. Using binary logistic regression, the data in this study revealed that an increase in positive environmental factors (household income and parental education) and an increase in positive personal factors (parental/peer communication, teen’s academic achievement, and attitudes toward sex) decreased negative behaviors (risks of teen pregnancy). This study may promote positive social change by providing information on relevant social and educational factors to those responsible for the design of comprehensive pregnancy prevention programs that target at-risk teenagers. Provision of comprehensive social and health services to teenage parents and their children may help to reduce rates of first-time and repeat teenage pregnancies and thus prevent the negative social consequences of these pregnancies. Impact of Environmental and Individual Risk Factors on Pregnant and Parenting Teenagers by Lakeasha S. Thrasher MPA, Albany State University, 2003 BS, Albany State University, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University August 2015 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my parents and my daughter, Kiara. My parents instilled in me at a very young age the importance of an education and a love for learning. My parents showed me that education was important and consistently encouraged me to learn more. Their encouragement and motivation gave me the strength to pursue all of my educational goals. My daughter is the reason my dissertation came to life. She was born when I was only 19 years old, which made me a teenage mother. Knowing that everything that I will have done from the day she was born until she becomes an adult will have a direct impact on her life gave me the motivation to complete this dissertation. Becoming a mother at such an early age and still managing to succeed in life has prompted me to help eliminate some of the health disparities associated with teenage pregnancy. I am grateful to my daughter for inspiring and motivating me to pursue this research and gain more knowledge of the issues related to teenage pregnancy. Together, my parents and my daughter have been integral in my success. Without their love and continued support, this would not have been possible. Acknowledgments First, I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for giving me the strength and endurance to complete this dissertation. For without Him, I am nothing, but with Him I can do ALL things. Secondly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my chair, Dr. Mary Lou Gutierrez, and my committee member, Dr. Paige Wermuth. Without their expertise and guidance, I would not have been able to complete a well-written dissertation. There are so many important details that I know I would have missed had it not been for them. Thank you for your support, patience, and academic expertise. I am privileged and honored to have worked with both of you. Lastly, I would like to thank my “Fabulous Four”: my mother, Patricia; my father, Willie Sr.; my daughter, Kiara; and my husband, Terry. My mother, for always loving and being there for me; my father, for his continued love and support; my daughter, for her everlasting strength and motivation; and my husband, for his unyielding sternness that kept me on track when I was having my breakdowns and felt like giving up. Without their continued love and support, realizing my goal of obtaining my doctorate would not have been possible. Their willingness to be there for me has made this journey a successful one, and I am forever thankful and love them. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………......v Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................2 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................4 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................5 Research Questions & Hypotheses ................................................................................5 Theoretical Base.............................................................................................................7 Definitions of Terms ......................................................................................................8 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................9 Limitations .....................................................................................................................9 Delimitations ................................................................................................................10 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................10 Social Change Implications .........................................................................................11 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................12 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................14 Overview ......................................................................................................................14 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................15 Epidemiology of the Reproductive Systems and Conception ......................................15 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle .....................................................................................20 i Theoretical Foundation ..............................................................................................222 Social and Individual Factors .......................................................................................23 Social and Economic Consequences of Teenage and Unplanned Pregnancy..............25 Education .....................................................................................................................28 Teenage Attitudes Towards Sex and Teenage Pregnancy ...........................................32 Contraceptive Use ........................................................................................................37 Evidence-Based Practices That Focus on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention .................42