The Model for Moving forward the Adolescent Health Network in Prevention and Solution against Adolescent Pregnancy, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi

Abstract

          Objectives: To explore the health literacy on adolescent pregnancy prevention and its associated factors, an operational status, guidelines for the implementation of the adolescent health network for prevention and solution for adolescent pregnancy as well as to develop and examine the effectiveness of adolescent health network model to prevent and solve the problem of adolescent pregnancy in Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi.

          Methods: This action research was divided into 3 phases : 1) exploring the health literacy on adolescent pregnancy prevention using an assessment form on health literacy concerning adolescent pregnancy among 305 high school students and exploring the operational status and guidelines for the implementation of the adolescent health network for prevention and solution for adolescent pregnancy among 12 stakeholders group discussion.    2) Developing adolescent health network model to prevent and solve the problem of adolescent pregnancy. 3) Implementing an 8-week program in three high schools and evaluating the effectiveness of model. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, multiple regression analysis, and content analysis.

          Results: Health literacy on adolescent pregnancy prevention among high school students overall’ was at a sufficient level and they might act correctly to prevent adolescent pregnancy ( = 91.36, S.D.= 14.54).  Decision skills could significantly predict 29.3 percent of adolescent pregnancy prevention behaviors at.01 level. Concerning the operational status in prevention and solution for adolescent pregnancy, there were adolescent clinics. However, the clinics received little attention and lacked the implementation of area-based approach.

          The developed model consisted of 2 components: 1) partnership and 2) mutual esteem. Five strategies in driving adolescent health network for prevention and solution for adolescent pregnancy were : 1) network building, 2) collaborative policy making, 3) preparing networks, 4) implementing for prevention and solution for adolescent pregnancy, and 5) evaluating. After implementing the model, the health literacy mean score of student leaders significantly increased at.01 level (t=3.326, p =.002). Student leaders and stakeholders were satisfied with the model’s formats and activities suitability, an effect on behavior change, and implementation in daily life. 

          Conclusion: Promoting and integrating the collaboration of health network of adolescents by involving students who have knowledge and understand about health, communication skills to persuade others for understanding, accepting, keeping pace with the media and information, and making decision how to act by using teenager clinics as important driver to improve good outcome of health literacy on adolescent pregnancy prevention. The results suggested that the policy for every school to develop student leaders’ and stakeholders’ ability periodically should be promoted for sustainability collaboration and lifelong development.