Literature Review
Peter Mbinglo
Lakeview College of Nursing
N302-Nursing Research
November, 5, 2011

	Literature Review
	The purpose of literature review could be varied depending on the topic in question. However certain criteria like time frame and sources are very important when addressing a literature review. This paper will analyze sources to be used in a research by discussing the name of the article and author(s), the purpose or problem stated in the article, the design of the study, the variables if applicable, the sample of the study, the researchers’ findings in the study, the researchers’ conclusion in the study, the limitations of the study, and the information from the source that will help to design my research proposal. 
	The study “Contraceptive Use and Pregnancy Risk Among U.S. High School Student, 1991-2003” was done by Santelli, Morrow, Anderson, and Linberg (2006). When one reads through the study, there is strong correlation between the article and the title. Santelli is a professor and chairman, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York. He does have educational preparation to assist in a study. Morrow is a mathematical statistician in the Department of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. He therefore has educational preparation and research expertise as a statistician and can therefore assist in interpretation of results. Anderson is a consultant in the Department of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta implying that he has educational preparation to conduct a study. Lindberg is senior research associate in Guttmacher Institute, New York. She thus has research expertise to assist in the study. 
	The study “Ambivalence and Pregnancy: Adolescents’ Attitudes, Contraceptive Use and Pregnancy” was done by Bruckner, Martin, and Bearman (2004). The title does reflect the study in question. Brückner is an assistant professor, Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, CT indicating that he has the educational preparation to participate in the study. Martin is a postdoctoral fellow, National Center for Children and Families, Teachers’ College, Columbia University, New York. As a postdoctoral fellow, he is developing research expertise as well as educational preparation. Bearman is a professor, Department of Sociology with Columbia University, New York. His professorship in Sociology qualifies him with educational preparation to conduct the study especially as the study was addressing attitudes. 
	The study “Practitioners’ Perspectives on Effective Practices For Hispanic Teenage Pregnancy Prevention” was conducted by Rusell and Lee (2004). The title does correlate well with the study in question. Russell is an associate specialist in cooperative extension, Department of Human and Community Development, University of California, Davis. He has educational preparation for the study. Lee is a 4-H youth development advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Davis. He has some clinical expertise as well as educational preparation from working with youths. 
	The study “Detailed Educational Pathways Among Females After Very Early Sexual Intercourse” was carried out by Steward, Farkas, and Bingenheimer (2009). The title marches what is in the article because it sheds light on the article. Steward is a research analyst, Child Trends, Washington, DC. He therefore has clinical expertise which is needed in the study. Farkas is a professor, Department of Education, University of California, Irvine. He has the educational preparation for a study. Bingenheimer is a postdoctoral fellow, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Working in a research institute and being a postdoctoral fellow qualifies him as well as some clinical expertise and educational preparation. 
	The study by Santelli et al. (2006) provided information and statistics related to the study in the abstract. The study is easy to comprehend and provides insights and highlights on the purpose. The purpose of the study was to explore changes in pregnancy risk over time among sexually active high school students between 1991 and 2003. The study by Bruckner et al. (2004) provided information in the abstract on teenagers’ conflicts with regards to pregnancy. They questioned whether this has been addressed in the past and hence their study addressed whether sexually experienced adolescents’ attitudes toward pregnancy influenced their risk of becoming pregnant. The study by Russell and Lee (2004) provided background information in their abstract on why Hispanic teenagers get impregnated. The purpose of their study was to investigate cultural sensitivity in Hispanic teenage pregnancy prevention programs from the perspective of practitioners who work with Hispanic youths in California. The study by Steward et al. (2009) started with information on the effects of sex on teenagers. They addressed the consequences of sex and how its outcome can impact teenagers’ lives as they ascend the academic ladder. The purpose of the paper was first to explore the extent to which the relationship between early sex and educational attainment remains intact after family background, school performance, behavioral factors and academic aspirations are taken into account. The second part examined the importance of the timing of first family formation in the relationship between early sex and educational attainment.
	The study by Santelli et al. (2006) is an explorative and longitudinal research aimed at exploring the outcome of condom use among teenagers and others methods of contraception like withdrawal and hormonal or drug therapy. The study conducted by Bruckner et al. (2004) had a descriptive and exploratory design. The study addressed sexually experienced adolescents and their chances of becoming pregnant. It is also descriptive based on its purpose, data analysis, and findings. The study conducted by Russell and Lee (2004) was a cross-sectional and exploratory design which examined the Hispanic‘s cultural attitudes toward teenage pregnancies and the advent of early sexual activity among Hispanic teenagers. The study was done by interviewing practitioners. The study by Steward et al. (2009) was a descriptive research that analyzed the impact of sex and pregnancy on the lives of teenagers as they go up the academic ladder and beyond. Most of the studies were quantitative but for the study by Russell and Lee (2004) which was qualitative. (Burns & Grove, 2009)
	The study by Santelli et al. (2006) used demographic variables because they had male and female subjects. In addition they took into consideration the different races, that is, White, Black and Hispanic. The study by Bruckner et al. (2004) also made use of different variables. They used social variables like family and socio-economical status, and demographic variables like gender, age, and race. The study by Russell and Lee (2004) did have variables that were demographic. The subjects were classified by age, race, and gender. The study by Steward et al. (2009) used different variables like demographic, outcome, predictor, and also social. (Burns & Grove, 2009)
	The sample size in the study by Santelli et al. (2006) was averaging 2500 subjects per year since it was a longitudinal study and the subjects were the targeted population. The sampling was a random stratified since it was only limited to grade nine through 12.  The study by Bruckner et al. (2004) had a huge sample size of more than 14000 subjects which were the target population. The sampling was stratified random though it was only limited to the ages of 15 – 19 years. The study by Russell and Lee (2004) used stratified random sampling with 58 subjects. The study by Steward et al. (2009) also used stratified random sampling though the variables were not based on age but on their educational achievement. When one looks at the different studies, the overall sampling used was a probability method. (Burns & Grove, 2009)
	In the study by Santelli et al. (2006), they found that the U.S. has made progress towards improving contraceptive practice among teenagers but they also suggest that there is considerable room for improvement. Bruckner et al. (2004) in their findings suggested that sexually experienced adolescents’ attitudes toward pregnancy do not influence their subsequent risk of pregnancy. They also found that there is a risk of pregnancy among young women with contraceptive use, with non-users being significantly more likely than inconsistent and consistent users to become pregnant. The findings by Russell and Lee (2004) was that prevention and intervention efforts for many programs was to teach and reinforce predominant U.S. cultural values. The findings in the study by Steward et al. (2004) suggested that early sexual decisions may have long-term consequences for teenagers. 
	Santelli et al. (2006) in conclusion stated that programs to prevent pregnancy among sexually active teenagers need to encourage contraceptive use among teenagers who do not use it and should stress correct and consistent use among those who do. In their conclusion, Bruckner et al. (2004) mentioned that additional efforts ought to supplement campaigns to change attitudes toward teenage pregnancy because despite changes in attitudes, their results indicated that teenagers may fail to change behavior. The study by Russell and Lee (2004) concluded that acculturation to U.S. values could be universally valued, but they suggested that the ability of young Hispanics to make the best choices for themselves and their future should be allowed.
	There were two limitations in the study by Santelli et al. (2006) and were; the National Youths Risk Behavior Survey provided limited information on contraceptive behaviors; the use of method-specific contraceptive failure rates by race or ethnicity for women of all ages rather than for teenagers. The study by Bruckner et al. (2004) did not make mention of any limitation other than the fact that they limited their subjects to sexually experienced young woman. However there was a limitation in that an objectives or hypothesis was not clearly linked to the relationship in the study framework. In addition the relationship among some concepts like ambivalence and sexually experience were unclear in the authors’ work. The study by Russell and Lee (2004) was limited only to California and in addition they did not examine any differences in views based on the practitioners’ characteristics. The study by Steward et al. (2009) had three limitations: self-reported data on topics such as age at first sex may be inaccurate or incomplete; the control variables were assessed after some young women had already initiated intercourse; and lastly the National Educational Longitudinal Study data set did not include every possible confounding variable.
	The above articles will be very useful in my proposal because they all identified an area of concern for a particular population. Most of the study had power and effect size which helped in the analysis and interpretation of results. Furthermore the scope and type of study, the number of variables, and the data analysis techniques will be helpful in my proposal and later my research. Most of all the studies provided great insights into the problems plaguing teenage pregnancy using designs that are explanatory or descriptive. Most of all the studies addressed teenagers’ attitudes toward sex and pregnancy. (Burns & Grove, 2009)

References
Burns, N., & Grove, S. (2009). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and 	generation of evidence (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.
Bruckner, H., Martin, A., & Bearman, P. (2004). Ambivalence and pregnancy: Adolescents, 	attitudes, contraceptive use and pregnancy. Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive 	Health, 36(6), 248-257
Russell, S., & Lee, F. (2004). Practitioners' perspectives on effective practices for Hispanic 	teenage pregnancy prevention. Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive Health, 36(4), 	142-149.
Santelli, J., Morrow, B., Anderson, J., & Lindberg, L. (2006). Contraceptive use and pregnancy 	risk among U.S. High school students, 1991-2003. Perspectives on Sexual & 	Reproductive Health, 38(2), 106-111.
Steward, N., Farkas, G., & Bingenheimer, J. (2009). Detailed educational pathways among 	females after very early sexual intercourse. Perspectives on Sexual & Reproductive 	Health, 41(4), 244-252. doi:10.1363/4124409.