Scholars all around the world consider the issue of aortic narrowing in adolescents that were either preterm born or exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy. The article by Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman (2009) considers this topic and uses inferential statistical analysis methods to handle its hypotheses.
In more detail, the discussed research deals with the hypothesis that “Preterm transition from fetal to neonatal circulation [and maternal smoking during pregnancy] might permanently alter aortic growth and development” (Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman, 2008, p. 1080).
To handle this hypothesis, Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman (2008) use the methods of statistical analysis. The researchers based their sampling procedures on The Stockholm Neonatal Project started in Sweden in 1998. The project included 291 preterm born infants, but the current researchers managed to sample only 63 members of the project study group and 49 members of the control group, which totals 112 people that agreed to participate in the research and had no medical instructions not to do so (Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman, 2008, p. 1080).
Further on, to deal with the research hypothesis, Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman (2008) make use of dependent and independent variables. The only dependent variable, which is tested by the very research, is aortic narrowing. The two independent variables are preterm birth and exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. The authors make use of both independent variables, but they consider each of them as the factors that are independent of each other as well (Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman, 2008, p. 1085).
At the same time, to provide for the objectivity of results, the authors use three ways to present the research results, i. e. mean and standard deviation, median, and percentage proportions. The Alpha level selected by the authors is 0.05. To get the results, the authors make use of such inferential statistical tools as t-tests and ANOVA tests, alongside with Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-squared test (Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman, 2008, p. 1082).
The major finding of the discussed research is that both preterm birth and maternal smoking during pregnancy contribute, although independently, to the aortic narrowing of adolescents (Bonamy, Bengtsson, Nagy, De Keyzer, and Norman, 2008, p. 1082). Accordingly, the research hypothesis formulated by the authors was confirmed after the investigation and statistical analyses were carried out.
So, the overall quality of the discussed research is rather high. The authors develop a theoretical framework for the study, specify the statistical methods they use, provide the hypothesis, and present findings discussed and analyzed about the latter. However, the research leaves the reader wondering:
- Are preterm birth and maternal smoking during pregnancy connected with each other?
- How can aortic narrowing be treated, if at all?
- What would be the research findings provided the sample of participants is larger?
Accordingly, these questions outline directions for further studies on the topic of smoking during pregnancy. In particular, other scholars might not only research the maternal smoking health effects, but also suggest some problem solutions.
References
Bonamy, A., Bengtsson, J., Nagy, Z., De Keyzer, H., and Norman, M. (2008). Preterm birth and maternal smoking in pregnancy are strong risk factors for aortic narrowing in adolescence. Acta Paediatrica, 97, 1080 – 1085.