.232). This model postulates three variables as motivators of health service utilization behaviors. The model, however, was not tested in the study. Rather, it was used merely to provide a conceptual context for the investigation.
(v) Ehlers (2003, p.233) describes several steps that were taken in the study, steps considered to be the primary ethical requirements for research using human subjects (see: Oliver 2003, pp. 26-51). These included: anonymity, confidentiality, the use of informed consent forms, sensitivity to the wording of items on the questionnaire, allowing subjects to ask questions and/or refuse to answer certain items, and complying with any reasonable requests made to allow them to feel more comfortable while participating in the research.
(I) The study contained a separate ôproblem statementö section which followed logically from a brief introductory review of the research (Ehlers 2003, p. 230). The problem was to find out why adolescent South African mothers did not use birth control/birth control services.
(ii) The title of the study was ôAdolescent Mothers Utilization of Contraceptive Services in South Africa.ö This was a somewhat limiting title in that it really did not allude to the fact that the interest was in determining why mothers were not using birth control and applying this information to service utilization and so forth. It was in the ballpark but in an abstract rather than concrete way.
(iii) The major aim of the study was explorative as is explicitly stated in the research abstract (see: Ehlers 2003, p. 229). The purpose of the exploration was to identify obstacles to mothersÆ use of birth control and related services (Ehlers 2003, p. 230).
(iv) The problem did flow from prior scientific researchers. Ehlers (2003, pp. 230-232) cited over 13 studies that directly related to reasons for under-utilization of contraception and contraception services.
(I) & (ii) The variables of t...