This document outlines a proposed research study on factors that cause pregnant and breastfeeding women to use and misuse drugs. The study will use qualitative research methods like interviews and focus groups to understand attitudes, experiences, and behaviors. Data will be analyzed by looking for patterns and trends in drug use at different pregnancy stages and locations. Results will be presented anonymously while following ethics approval and informed consent. The study aims to provide healthcare workers better insights to help these women.

2. Why and how I chose this
topic?
While I worked in the hospital, I looked after a
couple pregnant women who were drug abusers.
I wanted to find out their care plan which would
differ from other cases and what were the
common issues that raised in these situations. I
wanted to find out their backgrounds of drug
abuse, their choices while pregnant and
breastfeeding, without any judgments.

3. Research Question?
What are some factors that cause pregnant and
breastfeeding women to use and misuse social
drugs?

4. Why I chose the specific
research design and
methods?
The method for this plan was Qualitative research methods. This
type of method will be used to gain the information required for this
project. Qualitative research explores ones attitudes, experiences
and behaviors, through methods such as interviews and focus
groups. Such methods will be the main tools in gathering data in
order to gain a conclusion to the research question. By using
qualitative methods, interviews and focus groups will attempt to get
an in depth opinion from participants. In this case, dealing with such
delicate topics like drugs and pregnancies, it is important maintain
professionalism and yet portray empathy. Qualitative deals with
behaviors, attitudes and experiences, fewer people may take part in
the research, but the contact with these people tends to last longer.

5. How the study proposes to
analyze the data:
At the completion of the research process, the data will be collated and
analyzed. The answers from each interview from each participant will be put
together to form a solid result. The data found will be sectioned into month by
month results for each women at different stages of pregnancy and well onto
postnatal care and data found by each regional area, therefore the outcome
shows a total result. Once collated the data will be looked into looking at
patterns or trends in regards to consumption of drugs and matching this to
certain stages of pregnancy and postnatal care. Results will be analyzed by
region– to see if there are certain areas in New Zealand where using and
misusing drugs during pregnancy seems to be more frequent, and will also be
analyzed by month. This is to see if at certain stages during pregnancy a
woman is more likely to use drugs compared to other stages. By asking a
question also in the study in relation to what situation the woman was in which
lead to using social drugs, will provide information on trends in regards to at
what situations a pregnant woman will use drugs. The results will be collected
and presented in a range of reports and graphs.

6. The implications of the
research study to
contribute to
professional/discipline
practices:
I highly doubt that there will be any implications of
this study to impact the health care systems
negatively, in fact this study will benefit them. It will
give them a better insight to current issues
happening in communities and with knowledge they
can help and provide a better and safer care to these
people, especially women who are drug abusers.

7. My understanding of
Qualitative and
Quantitative Research:
Quantitative research involves gathering data that is
absolute, such as numerical data, so that it can be
examined in as unbiased a manner as possible. I think
quantitative research is to be able separate things easily
so that they can be counted and modeled statistically. And
qualitative research, issubjective form of research, in
which the research allows themselves to introduce their
own bias to help form a more complete picture. While
quantitative research generally knows exactly what it’s
looking for before the research begins, in qualitative
research the focus of the study may become more
apparent as time progresses.

8. Ethics
All pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in this study will need to
sign a consent form for their information to be taken, collected and published
while still remaining anonymous. The New Zealand Health and Disabilities
Ethics Committee would need to approve this study in order to start the
research. This would be given to the multi region Ethics committee, as the
study will cross over multiple regions in New Zealand. (New Zealand Health
and Disabilities Ethics Committee, 2011). If and when the women feel
uncomfortable during the study, they are able to discontinue form the
research. If anyone participating in the study feels any issues are brought up
that they need further help with, there will be a free counseling service
provided to the research participants. The interviewers will be fully trained
with impeccable interview skills and techniques and how to ensure the
participants not to feel judged or pressured based on their decisions and the
answers they provide throughout the study.

9. Reflections:
This semester I learnt about the importance of
qualitative and quantitative research and where
and when it needs to be applied in research. I
learnt how to write a literature review and
design a research plan. The online activities also
helped me understand the workings of methods
of research and enquiry. I have learnt some very
important tools which I’m sure ill use later in my
studies.