Proposal for hearing impaired pregnant teenagers

Program proposal; Unplanned pregnancy among hearing impaired teenagers

By

Aysha Siddiqui

Walden University

Introduction

This program is proposed for adolescents ages between 13 and 18, who are hearing impaired. The classes for these students are held together at school. Teachers and school administrators have become aware that there is a large number of unplanned pregnancies and cases of sexually transmitted diseases/ infections (STDs/ STIs). The program is designed as an intervention to reduce the number of pregnancies and cases of STDs among this population of adolescents. These are hearing impaired teenagers who have special needs and a disability, so this program will need to be customized to this condition for its success.

Description of Program Proposal

This program proposes that an intervention which considers the limitation of the population involved be made. The foremost step of the program is to provide sex education to the teenagers with emphasis on safe sex practices, age appropriate basis and birth control. According to Dawson (1986) sex education may not have a direct or a big effect on preventing pregnancies, but it does influence teenagers ‘contraceptive knowledge’. Teenagers who’ve had sex education report to use more methods compared to those who’ve had no education.                   

Challenges to the Program

With this population the challenge of mode of education will be faced. Visual presentations, slide shows and maybe even small skits with role playing would be a good way of communication. Theater productions with a special form of art called ‘Mime’ can be very effective. Mime is ‘the art of portraying characters and acting out situations or a narrative by gestures and body movement without the use of words’ (the free dictionary.com). Mime can be a way of education these teenagers about an issue that’s intense but it’s presented in an entertaining and fun manner. This can be a source of friendly interaction and discussion between classmates about topics related to the problem that’s at hand.

Integral role of Educators: Teachers will play a very vital role in this intervention. Antia (1982) study with hearing impaired children and teenagers revealed that social interaction and ‘physical proximity’ with teachers was of importance to hearing impaired children. These kids did not seem to interact with peers as compared to kids who are not hearing impaired, but they interact with the teachers more comparatively.

Effective strategies: A strategy that’s found effective with teenagers who are not hearing impaired is distraction from inappropriate behavior towards other extracurricular activities. This strategy maybe effective with this group as well and the intervention could include offering more physical activities or extracurricular activities to the kids, especially those that don’t require too much of listening. Examples are chess, dance (ballerina), musical lessons or more such activities.

Burton et al (2005) study on protective behavior for young found that participation in sports played a role in prediction ‘rule breaking’ behavior. The results of the study also showed that there is a ‘positive correlation’ between teenagers getting involved and participating in sports and exhibiting aggressive behavior. Getting involved in sports or activities may act as a deterrent among these teenagers and help reduce sexual activity among them. This can then have an effect on the number of unplanned pregnancies and cases of STDs/ STIs.

Conclusion

It is clear that these teenagers are developing sexually, socially and emotionally like all other teenagers. Any program aimed at helping these teenagers to reduce cases of sexually transmitted diseases or infection and unplanned pregnancies has a better chance of being successful if it looks at these teenagers as regular kids, and not as ones with a disability. The condition of being hearing impaired should just effect the mediums and modes of communication used, but not the approach about what will appeal to these teenagers.

 References

Antia, S. D. (1982). Social interaction of partially mainstreamed hearing-impaired children. American annals of the deaf, 127(1), 18-25.

Burton, J. M., & Marshall, L. A. (2005). Protective factors for youth considered at risk of criminal behaviour: does participation in extracurricular activities help?.Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 15(1), 46-64.     

Dawson, D. A. (1986). The effects of sex education on adolescent behavior.Family Planning Perspectives, 162-170.