Development of Model of Mechanism for Helping Pregnant Adolescents to Receive Rights under the Act for Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem, B.E. 2559 (2016)

Abstract

The purpose of this action research was to develop a mechanism for helping pregnant adolescents to receive rights under the Act for Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem, B.E. 2559 (2016). The study was divided into 4 phases as follows: 1) To study the basic information, review the relevant documents, and analyze the mechanism for helping former pregnant adolescents; 2) To develop a participatory mechanism for pregnant adolescents to receive rights under the Act, consisting of 2 steps: (1) There was a brainstorming among 40 involved persons from specifically selected research areas, namely Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, and Nakhon Nayok, and (2) The data was analyzed by 5 experts and academics to come to a conclusion; 3) To bring the developed mechanism to a trial in the pilot province, Uttaradit; and 4) To evaluate the operation by research tools, including in-depth interview, group discussion, and satisfaction questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis was conducted by finding the percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data analysis was conducted by classifying and grouping the data. The results showed that adolescents were not aware that there was a mechanism for helping and supporting pregnant adolescents. Important components of a province-level adolescent care and assistance mechanism should consist of a working group for helping pregnant adolescents at the provincial level, a variety of receiving channels that are easy to access and free or low-cost, the Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS) that works passively and proactively to enable adolescents to have access to alternative counseling services and to make their own decisions, and a systematic follow-up and parental cooperation to ensure that this mechanism provides a high level of satisfaction among those involved (82.5%). The recommendations from this study are that all provinces should have a mechanism to support adolescent pregnancy through the participation of relevant sectors to achieve acceptance and to provide clear and systematic guidelines that can help and track pregnant adolescents to receive rights under the Act.