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. 2022;17(4):510-535.
doi: 10.1080/15546128.2022.2053258. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Early childbearing, family support, and staying in school in a Northern Plains American Indian reservation

Malory Peterson  1 , Elizabeth Rink  1 , Mark Schure  1 , Kristina Mikkelsen  2 , Hailey Longtree  2 , Paula FireMoon  2 , Olivia Johnson  2
Affiliations

Early childbearing, family support, and staying in school in a Northern Plains American Indian reservation

Malory Peterson et al. Am J Sex Educ. 2022.

Abstract

American Indian youth experience teen birth and school dropout at higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Early childbearing is associated with adverse health and socioeconomic outcomes, including attenuated education. However, kinship childrearing norms among Northern Plains tribes can support positive experiences of early childbearing. Using a community based participatory research framework, this mixed methods exploratory study engaged high school students from a Northern Plains reservation community to examine youth perceptions of family support and belief in ability to stay in school should they have a child. We elicited youth observations of facilitators and inhibitors to academic achievement for young parents. This research supports the need for strengths-based, gender specific, and family inclusive sexuality education to support young people in their reproductive choices in reservation settings. We highlight the utility of including youth as co-authors and co-researchers in future studies.

Keywords: American Indian; community based participatory research; culture; member checking; teen pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement: There are no potential conflicts of interest for the authors.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Study process model including community based participatory research benefits
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
In-depth member checking discussion framework
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Example slide from member checking discussion presentation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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