Guidelines Development for Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy Through Participation of Healthcare Network Partners in Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

The objective of this research and development was to develop guidelines for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy through participation of Healthcare Network Partners in Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province. The study was conducted in the responsible area of Ban Non Muang Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital, Sila Sub-district and the responsible area of Non Thon Health Promoting Hospital, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province. A total of 77 participants were specifically chosen to take part in the project, comprising a group of 4 school health teachers, 33 community leaders and experts, 10 student and youth leaders and a group of 30 former pregnant girls. The data were collected via statistical tools consisting of In-depth Interview Approach, Focus Group Discussion Approach, Participant Observation Approach and Brainstorming Approach. The data was analyzed using Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation and Paired Samples T-Test. The study period was from March 2021 to December 2021. The study process was separated into 2 phases. Phase 1: Investigating the problem's circumstances, the variables that contribute to the problem, and obstacles to the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in the study area. The findings indicated that issues and development requirements were as follows: 1) Adolescent pregnant women lacked understanding of proper pregnancy self-care; 2) Adolescent pregnant women were not well cared for by their families; and 3) The community believed that adolescent pregnancy is a private matter that should not be involved.

The authors and Healthcare Network Partners collaborated each other to offer ideas and develop guidelines for preventing adolescent pregnancy on the following topics: 1) Developing self-care knowledge and abilities to protect oneself in situations leading to sexual intercourse, which results in adolescent pregnancy; 2) Increasing adolescent pregnant women's and their families' knowledge and abilities in proper self-care; and 3) Creating a youth club for friend groups to educate one another, with staff serving as advisers, resulting in a learning process launched for children and youth network partners dividing into 9 bases. The study revealed that the findings of the workshop analysis to address the issue of adolescent pregnancy were generally positive. ( =3.57   SD=0.71  Max=24  min=6.77) In terms of sex education, sexual risk behaviors, and adolescent pregnancy prevention before and after the model development, it was discovered that majority of the samples had a mean knowledge score at the moderate level, accounting for  64.28% ( =6.42  S.D.= 1.91 Max=9 Min= 2) And after the development, it was found that most of them had average knowledge scores at a moderate level, representing 64.0%, but their scores were increased to a good level, representing 35.7%. ( =9.07  S.D.= 1.59 Max=12 Min= 7) In terms of attitudes toward sex education, sexual risk behaviors, and adolescent pregnancy prevention among former pregnant girls before and after development, it was shown that the majority had a moderate mean attitude score of 100%. ( =33.93  S.D.= 2.43 Max=37 Min= 30) After development, it was discovered that the majority of them had an excellent attitude score of 64.3%. ( = 42.07  S.D.= 4.68 Max=47 Min= 34) In terms of performance behaviors to prevent pregnancy among former pregnant girls before and after development, it was found that most of them had a moderate mean score of 92.9%. ( =32.71  S.D.= 2.89 Max=37 Min= 28) And after the development, it was found that most of them had a good attitude score of 85.7%. ( =41.93  S.D.= 2.58 Max=45 Min= 36) In the comparison of sex education knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, sexual risk behaviors and adolescent pregnancy prevention among former pregnant girls before and after development, it was found that the ratings on knowledge level, attitude and performance were significant greater than before the development. (p-value = 0.001 ,0.00 and 0.00, respectively) Phase 2: Data collection during the co-operation with health network partners.  Premature sex and a lack of pregnancy prevention were discovered to be the root of the problem. Both of these issues were the result of the adolescent, his or her family, school, media, and community environment. Therefore, the model of pregnancy prevention among adolescents living in the area of Ban Non Muang Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital and Non Thon Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital was derived from various sources, consisting of Focus Group Discussion and In-Depth Interviews with Stakeholders. Such model must be created via the collaboration of families, schools, and communities.  As a result, the researchers' recommended model should be prevented using an educational system called Teenage Health Literacy Approach. This model focused on teamwork, a sincere effort to solve the problems and the participation of all parties concerned.

As a result, it was possible to infer that the engagement of these Health Network Partners in the prevention of adolescent pregnancy was effective. Adolescent pregnancy can be addressed through developing a body of knowledge or a Teenage  Health Literacy Approach for preventing adolescent pregnancy provided by the authors team. In addition, carrying out ongoing assessment activities in order to be compatible with the changing context of the area, including fostering knowledge and good health habits on a constant and continuing basis.