Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-223).

Thesis (M.A.)--Bowling Green State University, 2010. / Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 71 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-79).

The number of adolescents who become pregnant each year has, for the past two decades, been a topic of serious concern among international education and health professionals. The Department of Education established a new policy that allows adolescents to pursue their studies during pregnancy. This policy frustrated parents and educators because it interfered with social norms and values. It also puts pregnant adolescents’ lives at risk (Mwamwenda, 1996: 206). The pregnant adolescent finds herself in the midst of a multifaceted crisis situation which is characterised by the emotional and physical reality of pregnancy. She also faces the interruption of normal physiological development, a possible change in educational and career pursuit as well as parental kinship support, an increase in medical risks during pregnancy, and the premature assumption of the adult role with its associated responsibilities. The shock of an unwanted pregnancy can be emotionally traumatic for the adolescent. Some receive emotional support from their close family members, others do not. In the absence of emotional support, the pregnant adolescent may experience increased anxiety and frustration, while others may develop depression. Together with middle-aged childbearing women, adolescents are viewed as a high risk maternity population. Complications such as high blood pressure, toxaemia, anemia and cardiac and other physiological conditions may develop, endangering the life of the adolescent (Bodak & Jensen, 1984: 938) The researcher’s curiosity about adolescent pregnancy was raised when she studied the statistics of adolescent pregnancy between 2000 and 2003, at the local clinic in Duduza. She realised that more adolescents are becoming pregnant every year. She decided to conduct research about adolescent pregnancy. The intention was to explore and describe the experience of adolescents during pregnancy at Duduza Location and to determine guidelines for educators, parents and health workers to support adolescents during pregnancy. She also intended to make recommendations for parents, educators and health workers on how pregnant adolescents can be supported. This research was aimed at describing and exploring the experiences of adolescents during pregnancy. This research was qualitative in nature. The sample was taken from pregnant adolescents in a township. Data gathering methods used in this research were individual interviews and observations. The observation for this study was conducted by the researcher at the local clinic and individual homes. A total of ten interviews were conducted and all of them were transcribed and edited. The participants had to comment on their experiences during pregnancy. These ten interviews formed the basis of this study to facilitate the attainment of the primary objectives which were to explore and describe the experiences of adolescents during pregnancy. The data from these interviews were analysed by using an open coding method. An independent coder did an analysis independent from the researcher. A consensus validation discussion was held with the independent coder on the analyses of the data. The detailed discussion of results obtained from the interviews and observations were presented in verbatim quotes, descriptive and reflective notes and illustration of emergent themes and categories. Rigor and adequacy were ensured by the data collected and the results obtained from the data analysis indicated convergence and saturation. The measures of trustworthiness, that is, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability, were applied throughout the study. Ethical considerations were addressed in the assent letters which were presented to the participants. Ethical considerations included the preserving of anonymity, confidentiality, and the ethical role of the researcher that had to be adhered to. The research results indicated that adolescent pregnancy has psychological effects on the adolescent and there is insufficient support from significant others when they find out that the adolescent girl is pregnant. The guidelines for parents, educators and health workers to support adolescents during pregnancy were formulated and recommendations discussed. / Prof. C.P.H. Myburgh

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There has been little scientific evidence to suggest that abstinence-only-until-marriage education programs are effective in preventing or reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. There is also little scientific evidence to suggest that comprehensive sex education programs are as or more effective in preventing or reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease than their abstinence-only counterpart. The following study compares the teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates among minors in Virginia that participate in abstinence-only programs with rates among minors participating in comprehensive sex education programs. I hypothesize that counties implementing comprehensive sex education programs in schools will typically have lower pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates among minors than counties implementing abstinence-only education programs. I test these hypotheses with data on the 16 Virginia counties and county equivalents which could be verified as having either comprehensive or abstinence-only sex education programs in public schools during 1998-2003. The data confirm the hypotheses. On average, comprehensive program counties showed greater declines in pregnancy rates among females aged 15-17 than abstinence-only program counties. Comprehensive counties experienced declines in Chlamydia and Gonorrhea rates among males and females aged 15-17, whereas abstinence-only counties' Gonorrhea and Chlamydia rates increased. These findings underscore the need for statewide -- indeed, nationwide -- public reporting of school systems' sex education program types to permit a more thorough comparison and evaluation of program outcomes. In the meantime, these results challenge Virginia advocates of abstinence-only education programs to empirically defend their claims. / Master of Science

A three-day food intake was recorded for 100 elderly patients who were subsequently interviewed to determine the relationship of income level, educational level completed, and sex of the person with the nutrient intakes of these patients. Three-day caloric and nutrient intakes were recorded and compared to the 1974 Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA). Mean intake for a three-day period of seven nutrients showed patient averages met at least 100 percent of the RDA for all nutrients except calcium. The females had a mean intake of ninety-six percent of the RDA for calcium. The patients with the lower incomes had dietary patterns that were less adequate than the patterns for those with higher incomes, and these patients ate more carbohydrate and less protein than did the patients with higher income. Nutrient intake was increased for the patients as their level of education increased. There were no significant differences in the nutrient intakes between sexes. The males had a higher nutrient intake and had a higher percentage of protein in their diets than did the females, however, the differences were slight. It was concluded from the above results that certain beneficial changes in the study menu could be made. Especially important areas such as calcium and fat intake may need modification at some time in the future as more light is shed on these areas. / Master of Science