SELF-CARE AGENCY AND SELF-CARE IN PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS: A TEST OF OREM'S THEORY (OREM, DOROTHEA, ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY).
Contributors: Rush University, College Of Nursing.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 105
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.; Psychology, General.
Description: The purpose of this investigation was (1) to determine if there was a relationship between self-care agency and self-care/prenatal care in pregnant adolescents, and (2) to determine how the Basic Conditioning Factors influence self-care agency and self-care/prenatal in pregnant adolescents.

A cross-sectional, correlational research design was used in this study. Denyes Self-Care Agency Instrument (DSCAI) and Denyes Self-Care Practice Instrument (DSCPI) were adapted for use with pregnant subjects. The investigator also developed a questionnaire to collect data about seven of the Basic Conditioning Factors.

Sixty-two subjects between 14 and 19 years who were enrolled in school-based programs for pregnant teens participated. Subjects ethnic backgrounds included Afro-American, Caucasian, Mexican American and Native American. All were primiparas in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

In this study, a significant relationship was found between self-care agency and self-care/prenatal care in pregnant adolescents (r =.58; p =.000). Younger adolescents (14 & 15) had higher agency scores than older adolescents (16, 17, 18, & 19) (t = 2.11, p =.04). Only one Basic Conditioning Factor was found to be related to self-care.

Teens who had no health problems (79.59) during the pregnancy had higher practice scores than those experiencing problems (67.99) (t = 3.28, p =.002). When developmental state was examined in relationship to cognitive thought, no differences in agency or self-care scores were found between those participants in concrete operational thought and those in formal operational thought. No differences were found between agency and practice scores when Sociocultural Orientation was studied. Neither economic level nor race influenced the findings. Family System factors revealed no differences in agency or self-care scores although those living with their biological mother and father did have higher scores. In addition, Resource Availability and Accessibility did not significantly influence agency or self-care. Of the 62 in the study, fifty-seven were enrolled in prenatal care and all but 7 had kept all of their appointments.

The findings are discussed in relation to other studies utilizing Orem's SCDNT. Implications for nursing practice and research are also presented.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: B, page: 0173.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--RUSH UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF NURSING, 1994.

School code: 0591.