Defense Date

7-23-2024

Graduation Date

Winter 12-22-2024

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Nursing

School

School of Nursing

Committee Chair

Melissa Kalarchian

Committee Member

Alison Colbert

Committee Member

Jennifer Laurent

Keywords

Childhood sexual abuse, adolsecent pregnancy, rurality

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent pregnancy are critical public health issues that intersect in complex ways, particularly in rural areas. Adolescents who have experienced CSA are at a significantly higher risk of becoming pregnant before the age of 19 compared to their peers without such a history (Madigan et al., 2014). Rurality is also associated with elevated rates of adolescent pregnancy due to various socio-economic and healthcare access challenges ("Rural Health Information Hub," 2024). This study employed a grounded theory approach to develop a comprehensive understanding of the social and psychosocial processes influencing the choices, actions, and decisions of adolescents who have experienced CSA and adolescent pregnancy while living in rural areas. By exploring these intersections, the research aimed to add to what is known about the higher rate of adolescent pregnancy in this group. Four central concepts emerged showing how participants dealt with their experiences. They were avoiding, escaping, minimizing, and protecting. Factors contributing to movement between these concepts included conditions of being vulnerable children who were targeted, as well as contextual factors such as unavailable parents, lack of knowledge about conception, and limited access to reproductive services. The circumstances they described, including the reasons they gave for their thoughts, feelings, and actions, provide new insights into their experiences. Suggestions for further research and nursing interventions are given.

Language

English

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