A Latino Youth Photovoice Project on Teen Pregnancy

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Table of Contents

Synopsis
Experience, situation and subculture
The goal of the researchers
Data collection methods
Biases and preconceptions control
Proving the point: evidence used
Key findings: teen pregnancy among young Latinos
Conclusion
Reference List

Synopsis

In the 21^st century, the issue of teen pregnancy remains one of the key points of concern (Azevedo, Haddock & Muller, 2013). Despite massive awareness campaigns, the rates of teen pregnancy remain dangerously high among certain demographics. National and ethnic minorities still remain in the risk group, the rates of teen pregnancy being the highest among them. In their research, Noone, Sullivan, McKenzie, Esuqeda and Ibarra (2014) address the problem of increasing rates of teen pregnancy among Latin Americans, suggesting their methods of solving the problem.

Experience, situation and subculture

On the one hand, the researchers clearly address a complicated situation in the current Latin American culture, i.e., the lack of awareness concerning teen pregnancy, its threats and the importance of protection as the key means to prevent undesirable pregnancy, as well as the contraction of STD. Indeed, the researchers make it obvious that the situation regarding teen pregnancy awareness among young Latinos is beyond deplorable despite the numerous attempts to promote a more reasonable and responsible approach towards sexual relationships, young Latinos retain their behavioral patterns, encountering the same problem of unwanted pregnancy on a regular basis.

On the other hand, a closer look at the issue in question will reveal that the problem should be analyzed on a different level, i.e., on the one of the Latino youth subculture. There are reasons for the Latin American teenagers to reject the assistance that they are offered, and these reasons must be viewed in the context of the young culture in general and the Latino youth culture in particular. More to the point, it could be argued that the problem should be considered through the prism of the Latin American culture as a whole; however, the researchers do not touch upon the specified issue, preferring to restrict their study to the analysis of the tendencies among young Latin Americans, which may possibly hinder the promotion of teen pregnancy awareness among the target demographics.

The goal of the researchers

As far as the goals of the researchers are concerned (Brown, 2013), the identification of the key factors affecting the increase in the teen pregnancy rates among young Latin Americans, as well as the design of the method for addressing the situation, should be named.

Data collection methods

Noone et al (2014) announce photovoice to be their key data collection method. Seeing that the approach adopted by the researchers is identified as the community-based one (Noone et al., 2014, p. 64), it seems unreasonable to carry out a survey among the current members of the Latino culture without any regard for the history of the community in question (Brown, 2013). Therefore, a survey as one of the possible data collection methods was dismissed at the earliest stages of the research.

Photovoice, in its turn, was quickly considered to be the optimum solution, since it allowed both diving into the history of the Latino community and, therefore, identifying the possible cultural issues in promoting teen pregnancy awareness among young Latinos, and analyzing the current principles that the Latin American culture is based on, thus, making the process of reaching the target audience considerably easier. According to what the researchers say, four photovoice sessions had been carried out prior to the analysis of the data, with the study investigation and the conversations being the key methods of information acquisition.

While the latter were conducted with the local residents and were transcribed as interviews, the graphic elements of the data were obtained from a local Latino magazine (the courtesy of the local photographer, who also provided the researchers with a lot of useful information concerning the photographs).

Biases and preconceptions control

Since the study was limited to specific areas, the information attained in the process of research may lack objectivity. The researchers have acknowledged and corrected the issue in question, claiming that the findings can inform and guide other communities (Noone et al., 2014, p. 69).

Proving the point: evidence used

As it has been stressed above, the authors of the study incorporated several types of evidence to prove the research hypothesis. To be more exact, a combination of interviews and photos was utilized in order to design a proper solution for the problem.

Key findings: teen pregnancy among young Latinos

According to the study results, several resources can be used in order to solve the problem concerning teen pregnancy among young Latinos. First and foremost, community resources must be mentioned, since the Latino community is very strong and, therefore, its members have a major influence on each other. Next, reinforcement of the Latino values may be seen as a big step towards solving the issue. Improving the education system and releasing the Latino teens of the peer pressure are the next reasonable steps. Finally, the reduction of the risks related to the lack of communication deserves a mentioning.

Conclusion

The research findings seem quite accurate and adequate. Even though the study embraced a specific area and cannot be viewed as global, it still nails down the key priorities of the Latin community. Arguably, the improvements within the system of education should have been discussed in a more thorough manner; particularly, the means of increasing teen pregnancy awareness among Latin American students should have been provided.

Reference List

Azevedo, J. P., Haddock, S. E. & Muller, M. (2013). Teen pregnancy and opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington, DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Web.

Brown, S. J. (2013). Evidence-based nursing: The research-practice connection (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Jones & Bartlett.

Noone, J., Allen, T. L., Sullivan, M., McKenzie, G., Esqueda, T., & Ibarra, N. (2014). Escuchando a nuestros jovenes: A Latino youth photovoice project on teen pregnancy. Hispanic Health Care International, 12(2), 63-70.

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