title: No Rush to Motherhood: The Lived Experience of African American Never Pregnant Sexually Active Female Teens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of underserved minority sexually active teenaged girls' successful avoidance of unwanted pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Merleau-Ponty's methodology and van Manen's method of doing phenomenological research guided and facilitated the process of the study. 7 participants were eligible and all of them were interviewed for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six main themes were identified: sense of emotional safety; sense of being free from a potential pregnancy; feeling supported by family and friends; connections built on trust and communication; regard for self through self-esteem and self-confidence; and sense of having life goals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interpretive statement of 'these teen-agers experienced a sense of emotional safety, support by family and friends, trust and connection with family, friends and healthcare providers, and self-confidence resulting in the opportunity to develop life goals and feel strongly motivated to be free from pregnancy' was developed after further reflection upon the study themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare providers, primarily nurses, can use the findings of this study to improve their interactions with sexually active never pregnant female teens.
authors: Maimonides Infants and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn, Nurse Practitioner - Division of Pediatric Surgery, 4802 Tenth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219, United States. Electronic address: mjenkins@maimonidesmed.org.
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Jenkins
authors: College of Health Professions, Pace University, United States.
authors: Carol F
authors: CF
authors: Roye
authors: Leinhard School of Nursing, Pace University, United States.
authors: Keville
authors: K
authors: Frederickson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: African American; Never pregnant; Phenomenology; Pregnancy avoidance; Sexually active; Teens