The article “Adolescent girls who experience abuse or neglect are at an increased risk of teen pregnancy” by Judith Herrman presents the research findings of the incidence of teen pregnancy on adolescent girls who have been victims of abuse. JG Noll and CE Shank conducted the research. The research tries to ascertain the birth rate among neglected and sexually abused females (Herrman 79).
The research is relevant to the US context due to the high incidence of teen pregnancy. Initially, the article delineates that since 1990, there has been a significant decline in teen pregnancy (79). However, it identifies ethnicity, race, economic backgrounds, and geographical location as a great determining factor in the incidence of teen pregnancy. The article tries to predict the incidence of teen pregnancy to help develop policies on control of this issue.
Herrman presents Noll and Shank’s research findings in a concise, research article format with methodology and research findings presented clearly in two separate sections. The researchers used a questionnaire survey to collect data for the research. They surveyed 435 female respondents within the age group of 14 and 17 years until they were 19 years old (Herrman 79). The respondents were asked to take the survey once every year until they were 19 years old.
The sample consisted of women who had experienced sexual abuse in their teens and a comparison group that consisted of women who had not. Their responses were validated along with their hospital records to increase the validity of the study. The research findings showed that girls who had experienced sexual abuse in their teens showed a greater tendency to become pregnant (20.3%) in their teens than their comparison group (9.4%) (79). This shows that adolescents who reported having been sexually abused were more prone to teenage pregnancy. This leads the authors to conclude that adolescent girls’ neglect and sexual abuse increase the chances of pregnancy in their teens.
After presenting the methodology and the research findings, Herrman presented a commentary on the study giving a detailed overview of the study. The research was found to have followed a strong methodology, and there was high retention of respondents (Herrman 79).
The validation principle, followed by the researchers to substantiate their survey results, showed their dedication to avoiding false claims to increase the study’s reliability. This study has immense implications for policymakers. It indicates that young women who have been subject to neglect or sexual abuse were more prone to pregnancy in their teens, increasing the necessity of targeted prevention methods. The article also presents possible limitations of the study that could be addressed by researchers in the future.
Works Cited
Herrman, Judith W. “Adolescent girls who experience abuse or neglect are at an increased risk of teen pregnancy.” Evid Based Nurs 17.3 (2014): 79. Print.