Teen Pregnancy (2423 words) Essay Example For Students

Teen Pregnancy (2423 words) Essay Teen PregnancyTeen PregnancyThesis statement:Teenage pregnancy is a major concern in todays society; there are many ways to prevent teen pregnancy, many people to get advice from, and many decisions that a teen parent must make. Outline:I. IntroductionII. Teenage PregnancyA. Concerns about Teenage PregnancyB. What helps prevent Teen PregnancyC. Source of Advice and SupportIII. Stages of PregnancyA. First TrimesterB. Second TrimesterC. Third TrimesterIV. Challenges of Teenage ParenthoodA. Parenthood OptionsB. Continuing EducationC. Financial ProblemsV. ConclusionTeenage pregnancy is a major concern in todays society; there are many ways to prevent teenage pregnancy, many people to get advice from, and many decisions a teenage parent must make. The statistics tell that the U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy and births. We will write a custom essay on Teen Pregnancy (2423 words) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now More than 4 out of ten young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20-nearly one billion a year(Teen Pregnancy Facts and Stats 1). Teenage pregnancy has declined slowly but steadily. These recent declines reverse the 24-percent rise in the teenage birth rate from 1986 to 1991 (Teen Pregnancy Facts and Stats 1). Usually only one-third of teenage mothers receive a high school diploma. The rest of the mothers usually end up on welfare. A majority of both boys and girls who are sexually active wish they had waited. Eight in ten girls and six in ten boys say they wish they had waited (Teen Pregnancy Facts and Stats 1). Many people are concerned about the problems teenage parents and their children face. The health risks for a teenage girl who becomes pregnant increase sharply. One of the concerns of teenage mothers is the health risk. Usually young women have more complications in pregnancy than older women. The most hazardous complication is low birth weight. One out of seven babies born to teenage mothers have a low birth weight (Hildebrand 88). Poor eating habits, smoking, or using alcohol or drugs, cause low birth weight. Premature babies and babies with low birth weights often have organs that havent fully developed, such as lungs, heart and brain. These babies get sick easier than normal weight babies. As a result from what was motioned above, teenage mothers are considered to be in the high-risk health category. They need good prenatal care as soon as they find out they are pregnant. A doctor, nurse, or other medical practitioner gives most of the information about nutrition. Prenatal care can help prevent pregnancy complications and improve ones chances of having a healthy baby. The best way to prevent teenage pregnancy, which is 100% effective, is abstinence. Most teenagers have a whole life ahead of them and having a child will cause a lot of complications in your goals. Its no t impossible for teenage mothers to complete high school, or try to reach their goals in life, but having a child could very well interfere with these goals. Another way of protection is condoms. There are a lot of protections out there, but these protections are not 100-percent reliable. There are a lot of places and people to go to for support and advice. In addition there are many organizations and hotlines a teenage mother can contact for advice and assistance. Parents and family are one alternative. There are a lot of teenagers that are afraid of their parents reactions. However, most parents are calmer and more supportive than teenagers expect. Most parents are shocked when the teenager comes and tells them that they are pregnant. Just give the parents time and they will try to give their teenager the best advice that they know. The school nurse or counselor is another place to get advice. The counselor usually can gather up pamphlets and brochures about pregnancy. The counsel or can also help the teenager remain in school. They are very supportive and understanding. Doctors and clinics are very important for a teenage parent to go to. There are a lot of home pregnancy tests available, but the doctor is a lot more reliable and gives a more accurate answer. Family planning counselors are also very professional people who can explain various options and discuss the community resources available to teenagers. They also help arrange for financial assistance and recommend support groups. Since teenagers need a lot of prenatal care, the counselor also offers advice on prenatal care, nutrition information, childbirth classes, and parenting skills. These mentioned are just a few place or people you can go to for advice. Dont ever think that there isnt anyone out there to ask for advice. Teenager mothers would feel a lot more comfortable knowing what was going on with their bodies and how the baby is developing. The next part of this paper is going to explain the first through the third trimester of pregnancy. .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a , .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .postImageUrl , .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a , .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:hover , .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:visited , .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:active { border:0!important; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:active , .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5fdccf2fb2b7abfe1a49545600f2927a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Alcohol abuse EssayThe average biological length of human gestation, from conception to delivery, is 266 days. Due to the difficulty in assessing the exact date of conception, however, the clinical length of pregnancy is considered to be 280 days or 40 weeks, calculated from the last normal menstrual period before the cessation of menses, or menstrual flow. This calculation assumes that ovulation occurs 14 days after the last menstrual period. Human gestation is further divided into trimesters, each of which lasts slightly more than 13 weeks (Pregnancy and birth 1). In the first trimester the mother experiences nausea and vomiting, morning sickness, in the first 8 weeks. Breast soreness or tingling often occurs due to hormonal stimulation. Fatigue is also a common complaint. The baby is developing organs in the first trimester. The fetus heart begins to beat after 4 weeks. By 8 weeks, the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, fingers, and toes are easily recognizable, and male and female reproductive systems have diffentiated. By 12 weeks all of the organs have developed. During these first weeks, the mother should be very careful because the fetus is most vulnerable to potential teratogenic, birth-defect inducing drugs, radiation, and viruses. All of those factors are very dangerous to the fetus. During the second trimester the mother has increasing abdominal girth and pressure from the growing uterus. Braxton-Hicks contractions may occur. The mother may experience lightheadedness and may even faint due to the effects of the hormones on the blood vessels and the amount of blood diverted to the uterus, placenta, and fetus. There are many discomforts associated with pregnancy, most complained about is heartburn. Despite this discomfort, women are generally more comfor table during the second trimester than the first. During the second trimester the babys thin-walled skin develops, organs begin to function, and blood begins to be formed in the bone marrow. Scalp hair appears, fat increases, and bones begin to harden. About 20 weeks along, the mother can feel the precise movements of the baby. In the third trimester, the last weeks of pregnancy become increasingly uncomfortable. Headaches, shortness of breath, and swelling of legs are the common complaints. False labor pains, or contractions of the uterus that do not lead to progressive dilation, or opening of the cervix, can be particularly uncomfortable. The baby gains weight in the third trimester. Ear lobes begin to develop cartilage, testes begin to descend into the scrotum, nails begin to grow over the tips of the fingers, and creases develop over the soles of the feet. Also, the fetus begins to demonstrate coordinated patterns of behavior that are similar to the cycles of activity and sleep of a newborn. The things mentioned are just an overall view of the trimesters. A womans body undergoes a variety of changes to prepare for the growth, nourishment, and birth of a child. The teenage parent has a lot of challenges that must be overcame and decided, such as parenthood options, continuing education, and financial problems. These mentioned are just a few of the challenges a teenager faces. There are three options parents must decide if they become pregnant. The parents can marry and raise the child together. The mother or father can raise the child as a single parent. The parents can put the baby up for adoption. These are three options that are going to be very hard to decide. Whatever the teenager decides will have a consequence on the baby and the parents. When teenagers become pregnant, the first thing they want to do is rush into marriage. The parents may have talked about marriage but this would be the real thing. Only one-third of the teenagers who become pregnant before the age of 18 are married (Gutman 25). Babies need a lot of attention. They need to be fed, burped, diaper changes, bathe and cuddled. Having someone around to help with these tasks can be very helpful and rewarding for parents and the baby. Most teenage marriages dont last long. The teenagers may think they will have more freedom when they are married. Wrong, you will not have as much freedom. Teenagers are taking on a big responsibility when they marry. Think about it before you rush into marriage. When teenagers marry, they have to make decisions about where to live and how to pay the bills. These are just things you have to decide on. Trying to adjust to parenthood and having a marriage partner will be challenging and overwhelming. As a result, four out of five teenage couples divorce within six years (Hildebrand 94). The marriages that are successful receive support from friends and family. Another option would be singe parenthood. Single parenthood is either the mother or father deciding to raise the child alone. Usually when this happens, the mother is the one to keep the child. Both mother and child usually live with the mothers parents. Money concern plays a major role in teenage marriage, but is a greater problem for single parents. Being a single parent, trying to work, finish school, you must arrange for childcare services. Childcare services can be very expensive for a single parent. Usually if a single parent is balancing school, work, and taking care of a child, the teenager have a lot of support from parents, friends, and relatives. Parents can be big support for a teenage parent. The last option is adoption. To make this decision, the parents would have thought long and hard about the babys needs and their future. Adoption is not bad it may be best for the child if the couple isnt able to provide everything that a baby needs. If the parents werent able to gi ve the baby the good start in life it needs, adoption would be the best option. .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f , .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .postImageUrl , .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f , .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:hover , .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:visited , .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:active { border:0!important; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:active , .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u32c2e5af6ecdb596b22783330496a11f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: PLate Tetonics EssayAdoptions can be arranged by local, state, religious, and even private agencies. These agencies have a list of couples that wants kids but are unable to have them. The couples background is checked to be certain that they would be the best parents for the baby. Teenage parents who put their child up for adoption can be assured that the child will be taken care of. If the parents decide to give the baby up for adoption before its born, it can be arranged before birth. Adoption laws vary from state to state. An open adoption can be made. This adoption allows the birth and adoptive parents to share information about themselves and the child. The birth moth er usually meets the adoptive parents during the pregnancy or after the birth. The adoptive parents send photographs and letters letting the birth mother know how the child is doing. This is an advantage for the birth mother. The birth parents will know a little about his/her biological background. The adoptive parents can answer most of any questions the child asks about the birth parents. Continuing education is also a major decision when you become a teenage parent. Pregnant teenagers have the right to finish their education. It may be hard, but it is not impossible. In some schools they stay in their regular classes, but in others they are placed in special classes for pregnant teenagers. These classes can be helpful because they help parents learn about pregnancy, prenatal care, and parenting skills. Some schools even have childcare. This would help out a lot of teenage parents trying to finish their education. It is important for teenage parents to complete high school. A lot of jobs require high school diplomas. How can teenagers support their baby with no job?The statistics show that teenagers who dropout usually qualify for the lowest-paying jobs in the community, if even that. That is why having an education will help out a teenage mother or father. Having a high school diploma enables them to have more career choices. The most important challenge of a teenage parent is financial problems. Teenagers face more financial problems than older parents. Even if both parents work, they lack the education or skills needed to obtain a job that can support a family. This is why many teen mothers rely on welfare. Some 63% of teen parents depended on public programs for medical needs and daily living expense in 1992 (Programs that Work Now 1). Aid to families with Dependent Children (AFDC) provides financial support to eligible parents and children. Government assistance is minimal, however, and not always available. This probably wont change in the future becau se of the tax burden of these programs. Because of these programs, it helps prevent teenage mothers living in poverty. Before you become sexually active think of the consequences you face. Teen pregnancy isnt just it, there are many problems such as STDs, AIDS, and HIV. These are all associated with sex. If you are sexually active get on some kind of birth control and always use a condom. Think about the consequences you as a teenager would have to face if you risk getting pregnant. Think about the consequences it would put a baby through. Its tough to be a teenage parent and people will have to sacrifice a lot of things that they used to do now that theres a baby with you. Just remember, dont start having sex just because everybody else is or because someones pressuring you into it. Think about everything, including your future, school, friends, freedom, and your life. WORK CITEDGutman-Bowe, Sonia. Teen Pregnancy. Minneapolis: 1987. Hildebrand, Verna. Parenting: Rewards and Responsibilities. New York: 1988Pregnancy and birth. Grolier, INC. 1996 ed. Programs that work now. AFDC. 1995 online. Internet. 18 November 1999. Available http://www.intac.com/~jdeck/tahra/programstext.html. Teen Pregnancy Facts and Stats. NCPTP. 1999. Online. Internet. 11 November 1999. Available http://www.teenpregnancy.org/factstats.html. Social Issues Essays

Songhai Empire Essay Example

Songhai Empire Essay Example Songhai Empire Paper Songhai Empire Paper Beffa 4 The Songhai Empire Alex Beffa Global History April 9, 2012 Beffa 3 The Songhai, also known as the Songhay, was not only the last, but also the largest and greatest empire of western Africa between 1000 and 1600 ce. i The previous empire was the Mali empire. Songhai was just a client state at the port of Gao, which was a major trading port for trans-Saharan trade especially since it is located on the Niger river. When the Mali empire started to decline in the 14 th century, the Songhai king declared independence. i The Songhai empire was the most thriving west African empire for many reasons but major ones are: the kings Sunni Ali and Muhammad Ture as well as the conquering of the city of Timbuktu. Sunni Ali became ruler in 1464. He did not waste any time waiting to begin expanding. Shortly after coming to power, he went to conquer the great trading port of Timbuktu from the Tuareg raiders. After Timbuktu was his, Sunni Alis armies went south to the port of Jenne. In 1480, he attacked the Mossi states south of the Niger river. He had a strong military background which helped him become one of the best conquerers and leaders in African empire history until this point. His best asset was his naval skills which is mostly likely why he typically conquered ports along the Niger river. One of his major advancements was the the creation of a bureaucracy. This allowed the Songhai to be a more centralized empire than the previous empires of Ghana and Mali. To help get the Muslim support, Sunni Ali claimed to be a Muslim, though he never truly left the old traditional religions supposedly due to the belief that it was the source of his supernatural powers in battle. In 1492, after a successful conquest, according to some oral traditions, Sunni Ali drowned while crossing the Niger river. Still others refuse to accept this theory, insisting that he died in battle. His reign was from 1464-1492. When Sunni Ali died, one of his sons named Sunni Barou took over. iii Unfortunately, unlike his father, Sunni Barou did not claim to be Muslim but rather embraced the old tradition. This did not go over very well with the Muslim community in the empire. Not long after taking the throne, Sunni Barou was overthrown by a very faithful muslim named Muhammad Ture. Born around 1440, he was a very ruthless Beffa 4 killer. He even want so far as to eliminate the rest of Sunni Alis family members. As for his way of governing, the Islamic religion played a big role. He believed that the spread of islam was very important for two reasons. One, he was a devout muslim and felt that everyone should be. And second, he saw Islam as a way to unify the empire. He organized his own bureaucracy with 10 providences and an administrator for each. This allowed him to rule very effectively over a vast empire. To lower chances of a rebellion, Muhammad Ture would not allow the kings of the conquered to keep their power but instead he would replace them with members of his own family. In 1495, Muhammad decided to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike other rulers, he was able to leave for long periods of time due to how incredibly stable his government was. After his journey, he felt the need to expand the empire. When Sunni Ali had died, a good number of the states Sunni Ali had conquered had declared independence. It was up to muhammad to reassert the Songhai’s control over these territories. He had no problem with going on an almost continuous military conquest for close to two decades. Like Sunni Ali, Muhammad Ture also expanded the navy. After a military life like that, he was lucky to be around to experience old age. In 1528 Muhammad was so well aged that he had lost the drive to continue the conquests. Also he began to go blind, so his son Farimundyo Musa took over. Farimundyo Musa changed his name to Askia Musa which is where the Askia dynasty comes from. Askia Musa was assassinated in 1531 by one of his brothers. Since Muhammad Ture was Islamic and education is a big part of Islam, Muhammad obviously supported education. The University of Timbuktu was one of the first universities in all of Africa. It attracted many scholars, mainly Islamic. Trade helped bring prosperity to the Songhai Empire as well as these other advances. iv Timbuktu was not only, a major trading spot, but also an educational capital. It had a big effect on the Songhai empire. By conquering this major port early on in the Songhai empires life, it established a sort of foundation. By controlling this port along with a few other key cities, they basically dominated the trans-Saharan trade. Timbuktu Beffa 3 was founded by nomads of the Tuareg in the early 12 th century. In its early days, Timbuktu was thought to be inferior to other major trading ports for trans-Saharan trade such as the cities of Ghana or Walata because they were more impressive. It did not take long to change peoples minds. Timbuktu and its sister city Jenne, which was also soon conquered by the Songhai, were in much better position to the gold field than Walata. Another factor in the rise of timbuktu was the nomad arabs that had been raiding caravans along the western routes. In turn, more people had been taking the eastern routes through Timbuktu. Finally, probably the most signif icant reason timbuktu was such a major port, Timbuktu was on a point where three major trans-Saharan routes went: the Mauritanian, Taghaza salt road, and the route to In Salah by way of Arawan. Two of the most important major imports and exports of the Songhai empire were salt and gold, but other items included slaves, ivory, cotton fabrics, grains, and ostrich feathers. vi To Timbuktu in particular, the major ones were gold, salt, slaves, and kola nuts. The salt came from the salt mines in the Sahara. The gold came from Bure, Bambuk, and Akan. The others, kola nuts and slaves were kinda of wide spread, coming from several p laces and in demand at many more. Naturally as a major trading port, Timbuktu had cultural diffusion. Islamic ideas were passed around especially when Muhammad Ture was in power. vii In 1591 a Moroccan force overthrew the last king of the Songhai empire, thus ending the reign of the greatest western African empire between 1100 and 1600. viii They took the capital at Gao and then moved on to timbuktu. ix It would make sense that trade would be the Songhais forte since when the Mali empire was still in power, the Songhai was a major trading spot at the city of Gao. And the big emphasis on having a great navy would also make sense considering they are located on the Niger river. The major reasons for such an enormous and thriving empire were the well-organized government, combined with outstanding kings, and never having a financial crisis since they conquered cities like Timbuktu and Jenne right from the beginning. Beffa 4 Bibliography Fritze, Ronald. Timbuktu. In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2004-. Accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. Insoll, Timothy A. â€Å"Trade Empire. † Archeaology 53, no. 6 (november 2000): 48 MAS Ultra-School Edition, Ebscohost (accessed February 5, 2012). Page, Willie F. Encyclopedia of African History and Culture. USA: A Learning Source Book, 2001 William, Oscar. â€Å"Songhai Empire. † In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABCCLIO, 2004-. Accessed February 5, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abcclio. com/search/display/601432? terms=songhai World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. â€Å"Africa, 3000 BCE-1500 BCE,† ac cessed February 4, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abcclio. com/search/display/588506? terms=medieval+africa+songhai World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Askia dynasty, accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. bc-clio. com/. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Muhammad Ture, accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Sunni Ali, accessed April 8, http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. 2012. i Oscar William. â€Å"Songhai Empire. † In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC- CLIO, 2004-. Accessed February 5 , 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/search/display/601432? terms=songhai ii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Sunni Ali, accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. om/. iii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Sunni Ali,† iv World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Muhammad Ture, accessed April 15, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. v Ronald Fritze. Timbuktu. In World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2004-. Accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. vi World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Muhammad Ture,† vii Fritze viii World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, s. v. Askia dynasty, accessed April 16, 2012. http://ancienthistory. abc-clio. com/. ix Fritze

Inserting Foley Catheters and Infection risks involved with them Essay

Inserting Foley Catheters and Infection risks involved with them - Essay Example These considerations are based on evidence based practice (EBP) and associated with reduction of CAUTI risks and incidences in short term indwelling catheter patients. They include; educating staff on catheter management and monitoring of CAUTI incidences on regular basis, programs for prompt removal of catheters, cleansing of urethral meatus using perineal cleansers and maintenance of closed drainage system for urine. Introduction Self actualization is an important aspect of Maslow’s need theory which forms a central part of humanistic philosophy. This theory delineates self actualization which is the driving force behind reaching full potential and tantamount to self fulfillment. When basic and essential needs have been met, an individual moves to become self-actualized through doing what they are supposed to do. In the nursing context, this theory comes to life when nurses initiate the process of patient caring by using curative factors. By exploring self belief and utiliza tion of caring processes, nurses usually achieve self actualization for themselves as well as their clients. In Foley catheter insertion, Maslow’s theory is important in that it allows the application of nurses’ education to cater for the medical needs of their patients. ... Feedback by staff with regards to CAUTI prevention is very important coupled with principles of catheter care (Tenke, Kovacs, Johansen, et al., 2008; Trautner, 2010). Catheter Insertion and Removal There is mixed evidence that prompt programs for the insertion and removal of catheters can lead to reduction of CAUTI. However, a successful program needs to have different elements such as having a multidisciplinary team (nursing and medication). A team to control infection is important for catheter removal after 3-4 days. Besides these two, staffs also need to be educated about feedback of results and prompt removal of catheters (Trautner, 2010). Sterile Insertion of Catheter Evidence suggests that aseptic techniques such as use of sterile gloves, perineal washing and no touch techniques of insertion may very little influence on CAUTI and bacteriuria during or after indwelling catheter insertion. The use of aseptic techniques is often recommended as category II (Tenke, Kovacs, Johansen, et al., 2008; Willson, Wilde, Webb, et al., 2009). Routine Urethral Meatus Care EBP suggests that undertaking of meatal care by use of ointments or antiseptic cleansers should be part of genital and perineal care. Other studies have come with a contrasting opinion that shows the use of antiseptic agents may increase colonization of the meatal by bacteriuria which may increase CAUTI risk (Tenke, Kovacs, Johansen, et al., 2008; Trautner, 2010). Catheter Securement Apparatus Securement devices have little or no influence on development of CAUTI risks. However, further studies and research are needed on ability of securement apparatus to minimize CAUTI risks and urethral trauma (Tenke, Kovacs, Johansen, et al., 2008). Closed