Homework answers / question archive / Running head: TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH Topic: Effects of Early Pregnancy on the Mental Health of Young Mothers Nour Hashem West Coast University CAPS 401: General Education Capstone Professor Sher Mustell TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH 2 Description of the Topic I recently visited a clinic, and on arrival, I found a long queue of young expectant girls, aged about 14 to 17, waiting to see the obstetrician

Running head: TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH Topic: Effects of Early Pregnancy on the Mental Health of Young Mothers Nour Hashem West Coast University CAPS 401: General Education Capstone Professor Sher Mustell TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH 2 Description of the Topic I recently visited a clinic, and on arrival, I found a long queue of young expectant girls, aged about 14 to 17, waiting to see the obstetrician

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Running head: TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH Topic: Effects of Early Pregnancy on the Mental Health of Young Mothers Nour Hashem West Coast University CAPS 401: General Education Capstone Professor Sher Mustell TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH 2 Description of the Topic I recently visited a clinic, and on arrival, I found a long queue of young expectant girls, aged about 14 to 17, waiting to see the obstetrician. I enquired from the receptionist, out of curiosity, and was told that some of the girls had come for an abortion while others for their monthly clinical visits. Two different young women with two different mindsets, both of which I support. Thereafter, it was my inspiration to seek answers on matters of 'young motherhood' and their mental health status. The purpose of the study is to uncover how early pregnancies contribute to mental health conditions. Thus, the research topic of interest is “effects of early pregnancy on the mental health of young mothers.” Background for the Study Over time it has been insinuated that 'motherhood is a natural calling', and every member of our society has been rocking to the tune. However, we are in an era where young mothers are quickly rising in numbers, and I chose to point out that is not necessarily a carousel ride for most of these young mothers. Several reports of attempted and successful female teenage suicides have risen in the past decade, and the post-partum points to mental conditions related to early pregnancy in this population (Yelnik et al., 2016). According to America's Health Ranking of 2017, over 2600 teenage deaths were recorded within the country. As much as society today tries TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH 3 not to stigmatize this population, it is essential for us to ensure that the individuals themselves feel comfortable in their skin. Ideas and Research Questions 1) How are these young mothers able to cope with life stresses antenatal and postnatal? 2) Who forms their support system in such a crucial time of their life? 3) Do they feel abased when society reproaches them for their naïve actions? 4) How do they cope with school afterwards? 5) How about the thought of being responsible for another soul for the rest of their lives? Problem Statement The awaiting motherhood responsibilities are overwhelming for a 14-year-old mind that has barely made it through puberty. Therefore, it is shrewd to point out that young mothers need more than just emotional support to cope with life and its challenges. The findings will be pivotal in addressing interventions to deal with mental health conditions among teenagers. TOPIC: EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH 4 Reference Annual Report. (2017). Retrieved 12 April 2021, from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/ learn/reports/2017-annual-report Yelnik, C. M., Porter, T. F., Branch, D. W., Laskin, C. A., Merrill, J. T., Guerra, M. M., ... & Salmon, J. E. (2016). Brief report: changes in antiphospholipid antibody titers during pregnancy: effects on pregnancy outcomes. Arthritis & rheumatology, 68(8), 1964-1969. 1 Effects of Teenage Pregnancy on the Mental Health of Young Mothers Nour Hashem West Coast University CAPS 401: General Education Capstone Professor Sher Mustell 2 Effects of Teenage Pregnancy on the Mental Health of Young Mothers There has been an increase in teen moms over the last decade, with most such pregnancies being unplanned. Most teen pregnancies are perceived to change the lives of such young moms. That is mainly because of how the pregnancy put her responsible for her own life and another human being. Teen pregnancies result in physical changes in the young moms and make the affected women undergo mental changes. Various factors normally make the young moms experience added stress, including sleepless nights. Articles SmithBattle, L., & Freed, P. (2016). Teen mothers' mental health. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 41(1), 31-36. https://journals.lww.com/mcnjournal/FullText/ 2016/01000/Teen_Mothers__Mental_Health.5.aspx The article mainly focuses on the psychological distress that is normally experienced by teen mothers. The majority of such distresses are based on the challenges the teen mothers undergo while parenting in the context of either the chronic distress or the limitations they have towards social support. The article describes the prevalence of psychological distress experienced by teen mothers and some of the key factors contributing to the mothers` mental health and resilience (SmithBattle & Freed, 2016). This source is credible since it provides unbiased information. One of the most significant reasons that make the article appropriate for the research study is that it provides some key factors that promote teen mothers` mental health. 3 Papri, F. S., Khanam, Z., Ara, S., & Panna, M. B. (2016). Adolescent pregnancy: risk factors, outcome and prevention. Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 15(1), 53-56. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/CMOSHMCJ/article/view/28764 The article describes adolescent pregnancy as one of the most significant detrimental factors to the health of both the mother and the child globally. Therefore, teenage pregnancy is perceived as one of the key issues concerning the mental health of a woman affecting both the developing and developed nations (Papri et al., 2016). There has been a growing awareness that teen pregnancy has a variety of consequences on the well-being of the general society. This article is credible since it is backed up with enough evidence on how teen pregnancy normally affects mothers' mental well-being. The article is significant to the topic since it helps in reviewing the current trends and issues affected adolescent pregnancy. Moisan, C., Baril, C., Muckle, G., & Belanger, R. E. (2016). Teen pregnancy in Inuit communities–gaps still needed to be filled. International journal of circumpolar health, 75(1), 31790. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3402/ ijch.v75.31790%40zich20.2016.75.issue-S1 Teen pregnancy has been depicted as one of the key causes of mental health disparities globally. Although much efforts have already been made to reduce the number of teen pregnancies in the northern hemisphere, the high rates are still being experienced across the circumpolar regions. The article describes how teen pregnancy is a key cause of depression and anxiety among teenagers (Moisan et al., 2016). This article is, therefore, credible since it serves as a centre of extensive research. Therefore, the article will be 4 used in the research paper to provide comprehensive reviews concerning teen pregnancy as a multidimensional issue. Conclusion Nevertheless, teenage pregnancy does not mean that young mothers will not be successful in life. However, they need to consider what other young mothers have done to avoid experiencing various mental issues. They should therefore seek guidance from a counsellor or social worker. 5 References Moisan, C., Baril, C., Muckle, G., & Belanger, R. E. (2016). Teen pregnancy in Inuit communities–gaps still needed to be filled. International journal of circumpolar health, 75(1), 31790. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3402/ ijch.v75.31790%40zich20.2016.75.issue-S1 Papri, F. S., Khanam, Z., Ara, S., & Panna, M. B. (2016). Adolescent pregnancy: risk factors, outcome and prevention. Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 15(1), 53-56. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/CMOSHMCJ/article/view/28764 SmithBattle, L., & Freed, P. (2016). Teen mothers' mental health. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 41(1), 31-36. https://journals.lww.com/mcnjournal/FullText/ 2016/01000/Teen_Mothers__Mental_Health.5.aspx Running Head: SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC Scientific and Mathematic Perspectives Nour Hashem SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 2 Introduction Young mothers are often faced with many mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal thoughts in extreme cases (Cense & Ruard Ganzevoort, 2019). With increasing rates of early pregnancies among young mothers, it is clear that there is a need for further research on the effects of early pregnancies on mental health. This essay describes this topic from the scientific and mathematical perspectives of inquiry. The research questions from a scientific perspective of inquiry include; which chemical or biological issues are most important? What is the role of genetics in mental health issues among young mothers? The research questions from a mathematical perspective include; what are the economic issues involved? What is the national financial impact of supporting the mental health of young mothers? Which chemical or biological issues are most important? There are significant ties between the endocrine system and the mental health of young mothers. Severe hormonal change as a result of the pregnancy is a chemical and biological issue of mental health for young mothers. The endocrine system refers to the glands that are responsible for the production of hormones that regulate metabolism, mood, sleep, and reproduction. During pregnancy, there are chemical and biological changes that occur in the female body that is responsible for making suitable conditions for the development of the fetus. This includes the production of reproductive hormones that modulate behavioral, emotional, and cognitive responses. Rapid changes in progesterone and estradiol concentrations that occur during pregnancy and labor create a vulnerability that allows for the development of postpartum mental health challenges for young mothers. As adolescents, it is important to note that they are SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 3 at a very young age therefore they experience extreme hormonal and emotional challenges that have the potential to significantly alter their mental health. Abnormal neural responses provide a neuroendocrine chemical issue that is faced by young mothers experiencing mental health issues. Postpartum depression is one of the leading mental health issues that is faced by young mothers across the country. It affects 20-40% of the young mothers aged between 14 to 17 years old (Moisan, Baril, Muckle & Belanger, 2016). This condition is often referred to as “baby blues” with symptoms such as mood swings, insomnia, irritability, and difficulties bonding with the baby. Neural response refers to the factors that affect the nervous system in relation to the brain and the nervous system. The abnormal neural response occurs when the normal factors that are supposed to result in emotional conditions such as happiness or sadness are not able to result in the expected response. Young mothers often experience abnormal neural responses in their brains to unintended stimuli in their environment which causes hormonal imbalances in their bodies. This causes chemical changes to their brains causing them to experience anxiety, depression, and stress among other mental conditions. It is clear that sudden hormonal and neural changes as a result of the pregnancy are significant biological and chemical issues that increase the likelihood of the development of mental health issues among young mothers. What is the role of genetics in mental health issues among young mothers? Genetics plays a significant role in understanding the causes and effects of mental health issues among young mothers. Genetics includes the study of genes, heredity, and genetic variations among organisms. Studies have shown that 70% of the mental disorders in young SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 4 mothers are caused by genetic variations in their bodies (Elnagar, Ashour, Shahin & Emam, 2018). These genetic factors are categorized into; epigenetic regulation, genetic polymorphism, and single-gene changes. Epigenetic regulation refers to the different ways that individuals react to environmental changes which affect their likelihood of developing mental health challenges. Young mothers are often faced with drastic and sudden changes in their lives where they have to suddenly shift their lives from being carefree adolescents to responsible mothers. The combination of such sudden environmental changes with epigenetic regulation to mental health issues is a common factor for mental issues among young mothers. Genetic polymorphism causes a difference in an individual’s DNA. This is defined as the occurrence of many alleles in a gene’s locus where there are at least two alleles with a frequency that is greater than 1% (Elnagar, et., al, 2018). Usually, the changes in our DNA are the reasons why each individual is unique in their own way. A combination of different genetic polymorphism among young mothers together with sudden changes in the external environment increases the risk of development of mental health issues among young mothers. Single-gene changes are rare although they increase the likelihood of the development of mental health challenges. Two genes in particular; CACNA1C and CACNB2 have been linked to the development of mental health issues among young mothers. CACNA1C affects the brain circuitry that is responsible for emotion, attention, and memory while CACNB2 is a calcium channel gene that is also linked to the development of mental disorders (Elnagar, et., al, 2018). It is therefore clear that genetics plays a huge role in the development of mental health challenges among young mothers. It is therefore important to understand the genetic history of young SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 5 mothers so as to better prepare them for motherhood and prevent the development of mental health challenges. What are the economic issues involved? Poverty is a major economic issue that is faced due to early pregnancies' impact on mental health. Studies have shown that 40% of teenage mothers live in poverty within the first year of giving birth (Papri, Khanam, Ara & Panna, 2016). Young mothers are likely to developmental issues such as depression and anxiety after giving birth as they are not mentally prepared to raise children. This usually makes it difficult for young mothers to take up jobs, therefore, increasing the level of poverty that they are facing. Raising children is an expensive task which makes it difficult for young mothers to afford enough money to care for themselves and their children. This extra financial strain further affects the nation as a whole as there are increased poverty levels in the entire country. The effect of early pregnancy on mental health is a huge economic issue that affects the overall income of the country and the individuals. There is a significant decrease in the employment and the earnings of the family and the young mother. This increases the likelihood of the development of mental issues due to the lack of availability of funds to support their livelihood. Most of the young mothers are forced to abandon their education after their pregnancy to care for their young children. This results in increased financial strain on the family and the individual where they have to care for themselves and also for the newborn. The increase in school dropout as a result of early pregnancy also reduces the levels of employment in the SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 6 country. This, therefore, results in reduced earnings for the family and country as well as lower levels of employment for the country. Increased financial spending by the family and the country is an economic issue involved with early pregnancy. As most young mothers live below the poverty line, studies have shown that at least 63% of the teenage mothers received public benefits within the first three years of the child’s life (SmithBattle & Freed, 2016). Young mothers are also likely to receive support such as counseling especially for those mothers suffering from mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. As they are not able to afford counselors, they rely on goodwill, government support, and family contributions. This shows that there is an additional financial strain on the government as a result of early pregnancies and mental health issues among young mothers. What is the national financial impact of supporting the mental health of young mothers? Approximately 18% of the children in the country grow up in poverty. Most of the children in the country grow up in households where the annual income is less than $100,000 annually while some citizens live in families that earn lower than 50% of the poverty threshold (Smith, Strohschein & Crosnoe, 2018). Most of these children are born to young mothers who are not able to financially cater for themselves. As stated earlier, these young mothers are also highly prone to developing mental health issues such as postpartum depression. As a result of the high poverty levels, young mothers are forced to take up public medical covers that will provide basic health care for themselves and their children. SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 7 The minimum public sector cost of basic healthcare for a young mother is $5.99 while the full coverage for mental health services is $21.50 per individual per annum. Studies have shown that providing mental health services for all young mothers in the country would amount to 20% of the department of health’s budget (Smith, Strohschein & Crosnoe, 2018). This cost however may vary depending on the cost of labor, quality of care, service outputs, patient characteristics, and organizational factors. These costs are inclusive of direct and indirect medical costs. Direct medical costs include costs related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the mental condition while indirect costs refer to lost production as a result of the absence of labor. Using medical insurance policies such as Medicare, the highest cost for delivering mental health care support to young mothers is approximately $8,509 for 11 days while the lowest cost is $5,707 for 7.4 days (Smith, Strohschein & Crosnoe, 2018). It is clear that this is a very expensive venture that affects the entire country. Currently, there are networks of public and private organizations that work together to provide medical and non-medical support to young mothers across the country. As of the year 2008, the total amount of money that was used to support young mothers facing mental health issues was approximately $18 billion (Smith, Strohschein & Crosnoe, 2018). This shows that there is a huge financial strain that is posed on the public and private sector towards providing financial and non-financial support to young mothers in the country. This support is seeking to reduce the development of mental health issues among young mothers which alternatively will reduce the future overall spending on supporting young mothers who are at risk of developing mental health issues due to early pregnancy. Conclusion SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 8 In conclusion, it is clear that early pregnancy poses a huge risk to the mental health of young mothers who are at risk of developing depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal thoughts in extreme cases. This essay uses scientific and mathematic insights to further understand this issue through research questions such as; which chemical or biological issues are most important? What is the role of genetics in mental health issues among young mothers?. What are the economic issues involved? What is the national financial impact of supporting the mental health of young mothers?. It is clear that the hormonal, neurotic responses, genetic variations, and heredity of young mothers contribute to the development of mental issues. It is also clear that poverty, heavy financial strain, and unemployment are some economic impacts of the issue. This essay provides a clear understanding of some scientific and mathematical reasons behind this issue, therefore, increasing the ability to prevent future occurrence. SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 9 References Cense, M., & Ruard Ganzevoort, R. (2019). The storyscapes of teenage pregnancy. On morality, embodiment, and narrative agency. Journal of Youth Studies, 22(4), 568-583. https:// www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13676261.2018.1526373 Elnagar, M. A., Ashour, E., Shahin, M. A., & Emam, A. M. M. (2018). Perceived, psychological impact of teenage pregnancy among students. American Journal of Nursing, 6(2), 54-58. http://article.scinursingresearch.com/pdf/AJNR-6-2-3.pdf Moisan, C., Baril, C., Muckle, G., & Belanger, R. E. (2016). Teen pregnancy in Inuit communities–gaps still needed to be filled. International journal of circumpolar health, 75(1), 31790. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3402/ ijch.v75.31790%40zich20.2016.75.issue-S1 Papri, F. S., Khanam, Z., Ara, S., & Panna, M. B. (2016). Adolescent pregnancy: risk factors, outcome and prevention. Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 15(1), 53-56. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/CMOSHMCJ/article/ download/28764/19185 Smith, C., Strohschein, L., & Crosnoe, R. (2018). Family histories and teen pregnancy in the United States and Canada. Journal of Marriage and Family, 80(5), 1244-1258. https:// onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/am-pdf/10.1111/jomf.12512 SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATIC 10 SmithBattle, L., & Freed, P. (2016). Teen mothers' mental health. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 41(1), 31-36. http://nursing.ceconnection.com/ovidfiles/ 00005721-201601000-00005.pdf Running head: CULTURAL AND ETHICAL RESOURCES Cultural and Ethical Resources Nour Hashem West Coast University CAPS 401: General Education Capstone Professor Sher Mustell CULTURAL AND ETHICAL RESOURCES 2 Searching and Evaluating Cultural and Ethical Resources Early pregnancies among adolescents have been increasing over recent years. Research has shown that these early pregnancies present mental health challenges to young mothers (Laurenzi et.al, 2020). These challenges include depression, anxiety, and stress. To understand these challenges and develop mitigation measures, further research is necessary. A crucial step in understanding this issue is to investigate the cultural and ethical dynamics which are at play about the issue. This paper aims to search and evaluate three articles that describe the issue of mental health among young mothers from a cultural and ethical perspective. The first article: Psychosocial interventions targeting mental health in pregnant adolescents and adolescent partners; as a systematic review: explores the implications surrounding mental health during teenage pregnancies (Laurenzi et.al, 2020). The article explores the challenges, including mental health challenges that face adolescent mothers who are identified as a vulnerable group. The article in part analyzes various cultural aspects that may lead to teenage pregnancies such as age-disparate relationships (Laurenzi et. Al, 2020), as well as stigma arising from pregnancies that come outside the context of marriage. The article also attempts to adapt and design possible interventions which can be tailored to improve the mental health outcomes for this group. This article is a credible resource due to several reasons. The data used in the systematic review was drawn from reputable resources such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC. The article was tailored within the guidelines of WHO regarding Mental Health and utilized literature from reputable articles and experts. The article’s systematic review also utilized the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (Laurenzi et.al, 2020) to assess the risk of bias. This article will be useful in the address of the issue due to its extensive review of the issue under investigation. CULTURAL AND ETHICAL RESOURCES 3 Mental health presents a myriad of challenges when it comes to ethical considerations. The article: Adolescent mothers; A Qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to mental health in a low-resource setting in Cape Town, South Africa; provides an in-depth view of barriers and facilitators to mental services access (Field et.al, 2020). The article highlights the issue of confidentiality which forms part of ethical research. The adolescent mothers in the research expressed interest in being assured of confidentiality while participating in the research. The article highlights that stigma arising from mental health coupled with teenage pregnancy is the leading barrier to access to mental health services (Field et.al, 2020). The issues of confidentiality, trust, and disclosure are the leading ethical considerations that the article explores. This article is a credible source as it was published in the US government branch of the National Institutes of Health, NCBI. This article provides an extensive look into the dynamics that surround the mental health of young mothers. In terms of ethical dynamics, the article focuses on the role that confidentiality and trust between the mothers and the healthcare providers in the mitigation of mental health challenges facing the mothers. The third article ‘Adversities and mental health needs of pregnant adolescents in Kenya: identifying interpersonal, practical, and cultural barriers to care;’ (Osok et.al, 2018) explores the impact of cultural stigma and gender inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa among pregnant adolescents. The article outlines challenges that are bred by social and cultural values and how these challenges create barriers to access to health services. The article explores how society disenfranchises pregnant adolescents in the form of socio-cultural values as well as weak legal and social protection (Ook et.al, 2018). These factors are shown in the article to contribute significantly to the prevalence of mental health challenges among teenage mothers. The article is CULTURAL AND ETHICAL RESOURCES a credible source as it uses data from government institutions as well as other credible sources such as UNICEF. This article is relevant to the issue under research as it provides an in-depth review of how socio-cultural factors affect the mental well-being of adolescent mothers. 4 CULTURAL AND ETHICAL RESOURCES References Field, S., Honikman, S., & Abrahams, Z. (2020). Adolescent mothers: A qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to mental health in a low-resource setting in Cape Town, South Africa. African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, 12(1), 1-9. Laurenzi, C. A., Gordon, S., Abrahams, N., du Toit, S., Bradshaw, M., Brand, A.,.. & Skeen, S. (2020). Psychosocial interventions targeting mental health in pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents: a systematic review. Reproductive health, 17, 1-15. Osok, J., Kigamwa, P., Huang, K. Y., Grote, N., & Kumar, M. (2018). Adversities and mental health needs of pregnant adolescents in Kenya: identifying interpersonal, practical, and cultural barriers to care. BMC women's health, 18(1), 1-18. 5 Week 5 Assignment: Ethical and Cultural Perspectives of Inquiry Paper Compose a focused paper that explains and describes your healthcare issue or topic from a cultural and ethical perspective of inquiry. (You will cover two perspectives in one paper.) Form and answer two levels of research questions for each inquiry to address your chosen topic. • Choose a "Level 1 Research Question/Writing Prompt" from both of the lists below to answer in the paper. • Compose a "Level 2 Research Question/Writing Prompt" for each kind of inquiry that provides detail, specificity, and focus to your inquiry, research, and writing. • State your research questions in your paper's introduction. • Form the body of your paper by answering each research question and support your assertions with evidence (research). • In the conclusion of the paper, briefly review the issues, research questions, answers, and insights. Level 1 Research Questions/Writing Prompts ETHICAL Perspective of Inquiry • What laws govern or pertain to the issue? What ethical obstacles affect how the medical community addresses the issue? • How do ethical theories apply to the issue? • How do money, power, and control matters relate to the issue and its treatment? Level 1 Research Questions/Writing Prompts CULTURAL Perspective of Inquiry Which cultural values and/or norms influence the issue? • How is the issue addressed differently in varying cultural contexts and situations? Which cultures or societies are most affected by the issue? Why? Which cultural traditions affect the treatment(s)? Your paper must be five pages in length and reference four to six scholarly, peer-reviewed resources. Be sure to follow current APA Style (e.g., spacing, font, headers, titles, abstracts, page numbering) Refer to the rubric for evaluation details and to assist in preparing the paper. Points: 100 Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time)