High-Risk Families: Teen Pregnancy - Essay Example

? High Risk Families: Teen Pregnancy High Risk Families: Teen Pregnancy High-risk families cause many problems not only to the individual members of the family, but also to society in which the family exists. Economic problems, substance abuse, child developmental problems, defective physical or mental health, teen pregnancy, unwanted abortions etc are some of the major reasons, which put families into high risk. Teen pregnancy or unwanted pregnancy and the subsequent physical, mental and social problems cause many problems to families. This paper analyses how teen pregnancy causes huge risk to families and the nursing interventions needed for such families. Health profile: High risks associated with teen pregnancy According to Hayatbakhsh, et al. (2011), pregnancy can develop problem behaviours and increased substance use in teen around 14years of age. This is because of the confounding effect of variables, such as maternal socio-demographic status, mental health and substance use during pregnancy (p.200). During pregnancy, a female undergoes many psychological changes or mood changes. Even matured females are sometimes face problems in adjusting with such mood changes. In the case of teenagers, such mood changes may cause huge damage to their mental health. Depression, anxiety, hallucinations etc are some of the behavioural problems associated with teen pregnancy. It should be noted that the society and family may not welcome teen pregnancy. Under such circumstances, pregnant teenagers may face some kind of isolation both from the family and from the society. Apart from psychological problems, lot of physical problems may occur to pregnant teenagers. Body undergoes huge physiological changes during pregnancy. The immature body of the teenagers may not be able to adjust properly with such changes and subsequently physical problems may arise. Adeyinka, et al. (2010) mentioned that teen pregnancy can cause diseases or problems such as preterm labour and delivery, hypertensive disease, anaemia, more severe forms of malaria, obstructed labour, low birth weight and increased neonatal mortality and morbidity (p.785) Morbidity and mortality data “In 2009, approximately 410,000 teens aged 15--19 years gave birth in the United States, and the teen birth rate remains higher than in other developed countries” (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 2011). Moreover, “nearly half of all STIs (48%) occur in youth 15 to 24 years of age. In 2008, 17% of new HIV diagnoses were among adolescents aged 13 to 24” (Morbidity and Mortality among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2011, p.5). The following table provides a rough idea about the sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. Sexually Transmitted Infection Number of Cases Human Papillomavirus 4.6 million Trichomoniasis 1.9 million Chlamydia 1.5 million Genital Herpes 640,000 Gonorrhea 431,000 HIV 15,000 Syphilis 8,200 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010 (Morbidity and Mortality among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2011, p.5) Assessment considerations Teen mothers face lot of social and emotional, psychological and physical problems. Because of pregnancy, teen mothers might not be able to complete their school education. It should be noted that the complications before birth and after the birth of the child may not help teen mothers to concentrate on their studies. Lack of education prevents them from securing a decent job. Lack of job will create financial problems to them. Moreover, the children of teenage mothers may not perform well in their studies. The intellectual abilities of such children could be inferior to that of the children of normal mothers. Drop out cases are reported more in the case of children of teenage mothers. Along with these social problems, teen mothers may face lot of psychological and physical problems which were explained earlier in this paper. Family theory related to teen pregnancy Family Stress and Coping Theory seems to be relevant while dealing with teen pregnancy cases. This theory states that “Families generally operate on a predictable normal cycle, anticipating and accepting a sequence of events that will occur throughout the life-force. Events disturb the families’ equilibrium and require coping to regain homeostasis and remain organized in a stable fashion” (Family Stress and Coping Theory, n.d.). Since family is functioning as a coherent system or unit of individuals, the problems facing by one individual may affect others as well. In other words, individuals are the components of a family. When any of these components faces some problem, the entire family system may not function well. The stress and problems generated by the teenage mother may disperse evenly to others in the family. In short, teenage pregnancy is not an individual problem, but a family problem. So, any interventions programs designed to deal with of teenage pregnancy should consider the needs of the all the family members along with the needs of the teenage mother. HP 2010 objectives for the health problems common to teen mothers  Some of the HP 2010 objectives for the health problems common to teenage mothers are; Prevent unintended pregnancies; Prevent adolescent pregnancies; Detect health conditions early; Increase the detection and treatment of STDs and Slow the transmission of HIV through testing and treatment (Reproductive and Sexual Health, 2012). United pregnancies and STD’s can be prevented up to certain extent with the help of proper sex education. Teenagers should be taught how to engage in safe sex activities and avoid risky sexual behaviours. Nursing intervention strategies applicable the family of teenage mothers Nurses should realise the significance of comprehensive health assessments and health promotion strategies to help adolescents increase their knowledge about sexual health and contraception (Woo & Twinn, 2004, p.595). A combination of nursing intervention strategies are necessary to deal with the families of teenage mothers since all the family members need some kind of nursing interventions. Nurses dealing with this type of situation should give more attention not only to the physical and mental health of the teenage mother and child, but also to the overall health aspects of each every family member. They should support and enhance the family values and strengths as much as possible. They should assist the families in eradicating the superstitions and myths associated with teenage pregnancy and its consequences. Nurses can help such families to adapt properly with the society and with the teenage mother and her child. If any illness occurs to the teenage mother or the child, nurses should try to educate the mother and all the other family members about how to deal with such problems. They should take care about the family needs as well as the individual needs while dealing with such situations. They should try to enhance the communication between the family members and also between the family and society. Social isolation should never happen to these families and nurses can play vital role in helping the families in this regard. In short, the nurses should try to reduce the stresses and emotional problems developed among the teenage mothers and family members as much as possible through different types of interventions programs. The role of the advanced practice nurse as a case manager in this type of nursing situation The role of advanced practice nurses in dealing with teenage pregnancy is slightly different from the role of normal nurses. Advanced practice nurses should approach this problem as a family or social problem rather than an individual problem. So, their intervention strategies should give more attention to the social and family dimensions of this problem. They should try to study each case individually and devise customized intervention programs for each case. It should be noted that the needs of one teenage mother might not be the needs of another teenage mother. So, customized intervention strategies are necessary for each teenage mother and her family. References Adeyinka, DA.; Oladimeji, O Adekanbi, T I; Adeyinka, FE.; Falope, Y & Aimakhu, C. (2010). Outcome of adolescent pregnancies in southwestern Nigeria: a case–control study. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. Aug2010, Vol. 23 Issue 8, p785-789. Family Stress and Coping Theory, (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.csun.edu/~whw2380/542/Family%20Stress%20and%20Coping%20Theory.htm Hayatbakhsh, M R, Najman, J. M, Khatun, M, Al Mamun, A, Bor, W & Clavarino, A. (2011). A longitudinal study of child mental health and problem behaviours at 14years of age following unplanned pregnancy. Psychiatry Research. Jan2011, Vol. 185 Issue 1/2, p200-204. Morbidity and Mortality among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, (2011). Retrieved from http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/center-for-adolescent-health/az/_images/US%20Fact%20Sheet_FINAL.pdf Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6013a5.htm Reproductive and Sexual Health (2012). Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/LHI/reproductiveHealth.aspx Woo, H & Twinn, S. (2004). Issues And Innovations In Nursing Practice Health needs of Hong Kong Chinese pregnant adolescents. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Mar2004, Vol. 45 Issue 6, p595-602. Read More