NURS FPX 4060 Assessment 1: Health Promotion Plan

Research finding by World Health Organization shows that an average of 16 million girls give birth every year and they are between 15 to 19 years old. The risk of adolescent pregnancy is greater in developing countries having low to middle income (World Health Organization, 2022). Keeping in view the global, regional and national commitment to the prevention of marriages and teenage pregnancy, various organizations have taken great initiatives. Adolescent pregnancy is the leading cause of child and maternal mortality rates as it increases the risk of stillbirths along with other complications. Not only this, teenage pregnancy limits the basic opportunities for the girls such as education, and jobs, and increases economic pressure which creates a challenging situation mainly for the youth (Mohr et al., 2019). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which is the lead public health agency of the federal government, considers teenage pregnancy as a serious health issue due to its high cost and impacts on minority communities. For tackling this issue, CDC has developed some programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that focus mainly on educating people about the prevention of teenage pregnancy (Fernandes-Alcantara, 2018).

• The Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program
• The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)
• The Teen Pregnancy Prevention program (TPP)

Significance of Teenage Pregnancy in Health Plan Development

Adolescence is considered as one of the critical periods of transition in the entire developmental process from childhood to adulthood. Adolescents who lack basic education and are not able to attend the schools are more likely to indulge in various social issues. Adolescent pregnancy is also included among others. In order to have an improved socioeconomic standard many girls drop out from the school and choose marriage as a better option (World Bank, 2020).

NURS FPX 4060 Assessment 1: Health Promotion Plan

A study represents an estimation of about 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 years who become pregnant and 12 million of them giving birth in developing regions. According to WHO, the rate of teenage pregnancies has reduced from 64.5 births per 1000 in 2000 to 42.5 births per women in 2021 across the globe. Different regions have varied rates of teenage pregnancies however major decline is observed in Southern Asia (World Health Organization, 2022).

Research by world bank highlights poverty as the leading cause of adolescence pregnancy. The youth under 18 years, who belong to poorly educated rural areas, do not have access to opportunities and go for agricultural labour as the ultimate source of income which makes them vulnerable because of powerlessness and lack of freedom. These conditions result in early marriages and drop out from school which results in higher rates of teenage pregnancy in those areas (Mohr et al., 2019).

Agreed upon SMART health goals

The management of teenage pregnancy and its prevention is possible through the combined efforts of educational institutions such as schools and colleges, healthcare practitioners, public health services, and the community. Among these, general practitioners play a crucial role as they are concerned with the continuous support and provision of extensive care during pregnancy and post-delivery periods (AJGP, 2020). Moreover, they are responsible for making decisions that are based on evidence which helps them to develop effective strategies and goals that are achievable, specific, could be measured, reliable and timely to manage adolescent pregnancies. Following are some SMART goals that can help general practitioners and experts to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy;

NURS FPX 4060 Assessment 1: Health Promotion Plan

• Goal 1: Ensuring access to basic healthcare services by making general care inexpensive.
• Goal 2: Building a confidential and trustworthy relationship with the teenagers and Conducting knowledge-based awareness campaigns about various healthcare resources and sex education.
• Goal 3: Provide physical and emotional support to the teenagers along with extensive care.
• Goal 4: Identification of teenagers who are vulnerable to unintended pregnancy and their inquiry regarding conception plans.
• Goal 5: Focusing on empowerment and LIVES principle by listening, inquiring, validating, and enhancing the safety and support mainly for teenagers.

These strategies will improve clinical practices and facilitate healthcare providers. Non-judgmental relationship and effective counseling sessions with adolescents enables the healthcare department to reduce the risk associated with teenage pregnancy and enhance health outcomes.