eprintid: 10286
rev_number: 4
userid: 6
dir: disk0/00/01/02/86
datestamp: 2011-11-10 20:10:14
lastmod: 2016-11-15 13:54:15
status_changed: 2011-11-10 20:10:14
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: sylvia.brown36@yahoo.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Brown, Sylvia Rose
creators_email: sylvia.brown36@yahoo.com
title: Addressing Teen Pregnancy in Rural Settings through Comprehensive Teen-Focused Prenatal Programs
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_behavioralcommhealthsci
full_text_status: public
keywords: rural programs; Teen pregnancy
abstract: During an internship at Magee-Womens Hospital, I had the opportunity to work with the teen centered prenatal care program. Through my interactions with the teens, I found that it is very beneficial to them to have access to a prenatal care program that is teen-focused. I wondered if access the same type of program would be beneficial to pregnant teens in rural areas.Although rates have declined, teen pregnancy continues to be a health issue with significant social and economic implications. Pregnant teens are a vulnerable population at higher risk for poor prenatal and post-partum outcomes. Pregnant teens have unique circumstances that require a different approach than that provided to pregnant adults. Teen parents lack parenting skills and are at a higher risk for child abuse and neglect. Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school and more likely to have poor long-term outcomes. Teen pregnancy in rural settings is as much of an issue as teen pregnancy in urban settings, however, the availability of teen-focused prenatal services in rural areas are disproportionately low. Pregnant teens in rural areas are limited to seeking care in adult-focused clinics or traveling to neighboring urban counties for teen-focused services. Pregnant teens would benefit from comprehensive teen-focused prenatal care programs. Providing care in a teen-focused setting allows teens to learn needed skills in a supportive atmosphere. A teen-focused program addresses issues such as increasing the use of contraception to prevent subsequent pregnancies; it also provides nutritional counseling, teaches parenting skills, encourages continued education, and identifies available resources. Teen Outreach is an example of a comprehensive teen centered education program located in Washington County, PA. The program provides prenatal, post-partum, and parenting education for pregnant teens in a rural setting. The purpose of this thesis is to address the need for comprehensive teen-focused prenatal programs in rural areas.
date: 2009-01-29
date_type: completed
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Terry, Martha Ann
etdcommittee_name: Butler, James
etdcommittee_name: Copeland, Valire Carr
etdcommittee_email: materry@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: jbutler9@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: sswvcc@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: MATERRY
etdcommittee_id: JBUTLER9
etdcommittee_id: SSWVCC
etd_defense_date: 2008-11-24
etd_approval_date: 2009-01-29
etd_submission_date: 2008-12-10
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
assigned_doi: doi:10.5195/pitt.etd.2011.10286
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
committee: Martha Ann Terry, PhD, Senior Research Associate (materry@pitt.edu) - Committee Chair
committee: James Butler, MEd, H, Assistant (jbutler9@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
committee: Valire Carr Copeland, MSW, MPH, PhD, Assistant (sswvcc@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
etdurn: etd-12102008-150228
other_id: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12102008-150228/
other_id: etd-12102008-150228
citation:   Brown, Sylvia Rose  (2009) Addressing Teen Pregnancy in Rural Settings through Comprehensive Teen-Focused Prenatal Programs.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/10286/1/brownsretd.pdf