Unwanted Teenage Pregnancies: Sociological Model Based on Agents
Abstract
This study used new methodologies embedded in agent-based modeling to generate specific characteristic phenomena and core dynamics in unwanted teenage pregnancies. A NetLogo software was used to simulate data exhibiting the pattern of unwanted teenage pregnancy. The simulation revealed four agents contributing to the number of unwanted pregnancies: number of multiple partners, commitment, birth control method/s used and frequency of sex education. Among the four agents, the number of sexual partners significantly influenced the rate of unwanted pregnancies. However, commitment was not observed to be a contributory factor for the number of unwanted teenage pregnancies; rather it was more sensitive to the interactions among different agents. The Multiple Linear Regression model was generated from the interactions of the four predictor-variables and it illustrated prediction of unwanted teenage pregnancies in a given community.
Keywords:
Agent-based modeling, birth control methods, commitment, multiple sexual partners, NetLogo
References
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Finer, L.B., & Hussain, R. (2013). Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion in the Philippines: Context and consequences. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from https://www.guttmacher.org/report/unintended-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines-context-and-consequences
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Kohler, P.K., Manhart, L.E., & Lafferty, W.E. (2008). Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44(4), 344-351. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.026
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Reis, M., Ramiro, L., De Matos, M. G., & Diniz, J. A. (2011). The effects of sex education in promoting sexual and reproductive health in Portuguese university, 29, 477-485. Retrieved from doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.11.266
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United Nations. (2012). Demographic yearbook 2011. New York: United Nations. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from https://www.unstats.un.org/UNSD/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2009-2010.htm
UNAIDS-Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. (2012). Global report. UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2012. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from http://www.unaids.org/en/resourcescampaigns/20121120_65globalreport2012/globalreport
Wang, H., Long, L., Cai, Y., Wu, Y., Xu, J., Shu, C., Wang, P., Li, B., Wei, Q., Shang, X., Wang, X., Zhang, M., Xiong, C., & Yin, P. (2015.). Contraception and unintended pregnancy among unmarried female university students: A cross-sectional study from China. Retrieved from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0130212
Wilensky, U. (1999). NetLogo. Retrieved from http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modelling. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University.
World Bank. (2010). Women, business and law: Meaning legal gender parity for entrepreneurs and workers in 128 economics. Washington, DC: World Bank 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2016, for http://wbl.worldbank.org/r/media/WBG/WBL/documents/reports/2010/women-business-law.pdf
Berne, L. & Huberman, B. (1999). European approaches to adolescent sexual behavior and responsibility. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/storage/advfy/document/european.pdf
CDC. (2015). Reproductive health: Teen pregnancy. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
Destatis-Federal Statistical Office. (2012). US teenage pregnancies, births and abortions 2008: National trends by age, race and ethnicity. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from https://www.guttmacher.org/sistes/default/files/pdfs/pubs/USTPtrends08.pdf
Finer, L.B., & Hussain, R. (2013). Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion in the Philippines: Context and consequences. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from https://www.guttmacher.org/report/unintended-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines-context-and-consequences
Guerero, L.K., Andersen, P.A., & Affi, W.E. (2014). Close encounters: Communication in relationships (4th ed.). USA: SAGE Publication, Inc.
Guttmacher Institute. (2015). Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion in the Philippines: Context and consequences. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from https://www.guttmacher.org/repot/unwanted-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philppines-context-and-consequences
Kirby, D. (2007). Sex and HIV programs: Their impact on sexual behaviors of young people throughout the world. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 206-217. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth. 2006.11.143
Kirby, D., Laris, B.A., & Rolleri, L. (2007). Sex and HIV education programs: Their impact on sexual behaviors of young people throughout the world. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 206-217.
Kohler, P.K., Manhart, L.E., & Lafferty, W.E. (2008). Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44(4), 344-351. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.026
Kost, K., & Henshaw, S. (2012). U.S. teenage pregnancies, births and abortions: National trends by age, race and ethnicity. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/pubs/USTPtrends08.pdf
More Magazine. (2008). Young UK women more promiscuous than men. Survey Retrieved April 8, 2916, from www.mobile.abc.net.all
Mueller, T.E., Gavin, L.E.,& Kulkarni, A. (2008). The association between sex education and youth’s engagement in sexual intercourse, age at first intercourse, and birth control use at first sex. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42. 89–96.
Patterson, K. (2012). How many sexual partners should a woman have had? Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/sex-and-love/how-many-sexual-partners-should-a-woman-have-had-28744064.html
Reis, M., Ramiro, L., De Matos, M. G., & Diniz, J. A. (2011). The effects of sex education in promoting sexual and reproductive health in Portuguese university, 29, 477-485. Retrieved from doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.11.266
Sonfield, A. (2014, December 9). Beyond preventing unplanned pregnancy: The broader benefits of publicly funded family planning services. Retrieved September 2016, from https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2014/12/beyond-preventing-unplanned-pregnancy-broader-benefits-publicly-funded-family-planning
United Nations. (2012). Demographic yearbook 2011. New York: United Nations. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from https://www.unstats.un.org/UNSD/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2009-2010.htm
UNAIDS-Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. (2012). Global report. UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2012. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2016, from http://www.unaids.org/en/resourcescampaigns/20121120_65globalreport2012/globalreport
Wang, H., Long, L., Cai, Y., Wu, Y., Xu, J., Shu, C., Wang, P., Li, B., Wei, Q., Shang, X., Wang, X., Zhang, M., Xiong, C., & Yin, P. (2015.). Contraception and unintended pregnancy among unmarried female university students: A cross-sectional study from China. Retrieved from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0130212
Wilensky, U. (1999). NetLogo. Retrieved from http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modelling. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University.
World Bank. (2010). Women, business and law: Meaning legal gender parity for entrepreneurs and workers in 128 economics. Washington, DC: World Bank 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2016, for http://wbl.worldbank.org/r/media/WBG/WBL/documents/reports/2010/women-business-law.pdf
Published
2017-11-16
Section
Articles
Copyright holder is the Bukidnon State University.
