As part of the final project for the public service master’s program, Angela Jimenez, M.D, from the University Of Arkansas Clinton School Of Public Service, researched and identified the protective factors against unplanned teen pregnancies in Arkansas, alongside the Arkansas Department of Health.
Dr. Jimenez’s work involved creating a survey administered to the female Latino population in Little Rock to identify protective factors. Results indicate several statistically significant protective factors against unplanned pregnancies, like Latino family structure and encouragement to complete a higher level of education. The development of recommendations focused on a community-based participatory research approach were shared, along with the research findings, with organizations and academic institutions such as UAMS, The Woman’s Foundation of Arkansas, The Arkansas Department of Health, The Clinton School of Public Service and The Mexican Consulate in Little Rock.
Providing the research results to these institutions help to increase awareness regarding the Latino community’s capacity to elude risks and stimulate social and cultural competence to avoid teen pregnancies. Even when some risk factors are still present in the surveyed Latino population, the protective factors approach creates the opportunity to implement community-based participatory strategies that promote the protective factors against unplanned pregnancies in vulnerable communities.
“We have limited knowledge of the Latino community in Arkansas and this research helps inform us of how we may work with the community to reduce unwanted births,” said Brad Planey, Branch Chief, Family Health Branch, Arkansas Department of Health. “The focus on the protective factors makes this research unique and provides a positive approach to change in a sensitive area of health for the community”
Dr. Jimenez’s work uses, encourages and recommends a community-based participatory research approach to engage the Latino community as a way to increase awareness, prevention, and reduce the teen birth rate in Arkansas.
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