Teenage Pregnancy Research Report - 3p Consulting

Literature ReviewThe literature review has been designed to inform theproject about outcomes of teenage parenting on boththe child and their parents, the influence of targetedprograms and the role services and service providerscan play to support sexually active teenagers mosteffectively. In addition the literature review has alsoenabled validation of conclusions from this research withthe broader research base and gauges its applicability toyoung people in the Tasmanian setting and the north ofthe state, in particular.Analysis of the key themes from the literature review alsoinformed the development of the in-depth interviews, thefocus group discussions, survey questions and serviceproviders’ interviews.A concerted effort was made to focus on researchconducted in the last 5-10 years, identifying the mostrelevant case studies while ensuring lesser issues werenot ignored. The authors were conscious of investigatingliterature that spanned different social, cultural, ethnicand geographical groupings in their research.The literature review is contained within each of the threemajor categories and relates to national and internationalresearch that supports and informs the findings of thelocal context.Local contextThe data and background research component of themethodology has been designed to provide a statisticaloverview of teenage pregnancy in Tasmania and an indepthanalysis of the concentration of teenage mothers inthe north. It also provides information about social, healthand wellbeing outcomes for mothers and babies.This component of our methodology has also mappedthe service providers and programs that have contactwith young people aged 14 - 19 years in the north. Anyrelevant state and Commonwealth policy directions andprogram initiatives have also been documented.Interviews with young parentsOf critical importance to the research has been theengagement of young people directly. The project gainedfeedback from young people directly relating to theirexperiences. This has included:In-depth interviewsThe researchers have worked with programs such asPYPS (Pregnant and Young Parent Support) cu@homeand Tasmanian Aboriginal Health Centre to interviewa number of young mothers and fathers who areparticipating in their programs.The intent of the in-depth discussions has been toexplore with the young people, through listening to theirexperiences, some of the following:• Their attitudes, knowledge and use of contraception;• Family attitudes to and support for their pregnancy;• Motivations for and thoughts about continuing with thepregnancy;• Attitudes to and experiences in education;• Their expectation of motherhood;• The role of the father; and• Experience of birth and early parenthood.Information from the discussions has been integratedinto the overall report under the categories outlined. Inaddition, the researchers have developed a range ofcase studies which are also used throughout the reportto ensure the voices and perspectives of young peopleare included.Focus groups with young peopleTwo focus groups have been conducted with the aim ofachieving a deeper understanding of the attitudes andissues surrounding teenage pregnancy and parentingfrom a range of individuals. They have included talkingwith young mothers and young fathers to gain aperspective from each group.15