Exploring Early Motherhood through Perspectives from Teenage Mothers and Healthcare Providers: A Qualitative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-5293/17089Keywords:
early motherhood, teenage mothers, qualitative studyAbstract
Background: Motherhood is integral to women’s identity globally, yet early motherhood presents health challenges, particularly in developing countries, with approximately 21 million pregnancies annually among adolescent girls aged 15–19. This phenomenon is linked to adverse outcomes, including education barriers and some other experiences and needs participation.
Purpose: This study aimed To explore the experiences of Iranian teenage mothers and healthcare providers to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with early motherhood, thereby informing future interventions and support strategies.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study used conventional content analysis. Data collection and analysis were done from August to December 2022, with interviews with 15 teenage mothers and 11 health carers of Shiraz and Fasa. Our tool for data collection was a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Guba and Lincoln criteria were used to assess data validity.
Results: The 1900 conceptual codes of the participants’ experiences were classified into three general categories of teenage mothers and healthcare provider’s experiences.
Conclusion: While early motherhood brings responsibilities and social recognition, teenage mothers in this study faced significant challenges, such as managing work and childcare and addressing mental health disorders. Efforts should focus on high-quality care for adolescent mothers, support for their children, and enhancing social support systems and educational opportunities.
References
Abdul Rahim, K., N. J. Egglestone, I. G. Tsagareli, W. Usmani, S. Meherali, and Z. S. Lassi. 2024. “Mental Health Outcomes Beyond the Post-Partum Period among Adolescent Mothers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine 12 (1):2305741. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2024.2305741.
Adane, B., B. Kefale, Y. Damtie, M. Arefaynie, E. Addisu, R. Dewau, K. Mitiku, T. D. Tsega, A. A. Andualem, M. Awoke, T. Asfaw, Y. Wasihun, and M. Yalew. 2024. “Male Involvement in Family Planning and Its Association with Knowledge and Spouse Discussion in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” BMJ Open 14 (4):e082094–94. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082094
Alex-Ojei, C. A., C. O. Odimegwu, and L. F. C. Ntoimo. 2023. “A Qualitative Investigation into Pregnancy Experiences and Maternal Healthcare Utilisation among Adolescent Mothers in Nigeria.” Reproductive Health 20 (1):77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01613-z
Al-Kloub, M. I., H. J. Al-Zein, M. S. Abdalrahim, and M. A. Abed. 2019. “Young Women’s Experience of Adolescent Marriage and Motherhood in Jordan.” Culture, Health & Sexuality 21 (4):462–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2018.1489067
Assini-Meytin, L. C., M. A. Garza, and K, M. Green. 2019. “Racial and Ethnic Differences in Teenage Fathers’ Early Risk Factors and Socioeconomic Outcomes Later in Life.” Child & Youth Care Forum 48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-018-9483-9
Bruno, S. K. B., H. A. L. Rocha, S. G. M. O. Rocha, D. A. B. S. Araújo, J. S. Campos, A. C. Silva, and L. L. Correia. 2021. “Prevalence, Socioeconomic Factors and Obstetric Outcomes Associated with Adolescent Motherhood in Ceará, Brazil: A Population-Based Study.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04088-7
Caira-Chuquineyra, B., D. Fernandez-Guzman, A. Meza-Gómez, B. M. Luque-Mamani, S. L. Medina-Carpio, C. S. Mamani-García, M. Romani-Peña, and C. Díaz-Vélez. 2022. “Prevalence and Factors Associated with Adolescent Pregnancy among Sexually Active Adolescent Girls in Peru: Evidence from Demographic and Family Health Survey, 2015-2019.” F1000Research 11:566. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.108837.2
Chikalipo, M. C., L. N. Mipando, R. C. Ngalande, S. R. Muheriwa, and U. K. Kafulafula. 2018. “Perceptions of Pregnant Adolescents on the Antenatal Care Received at Ndirande Health Centre in Blantyre, Malawi.” Malawi Medical Journal 30 (1):25. https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v30i1.6
Corsaro, William A, and Judson G Everitt. 2023. The Sociology of Childhood. SAGE Publications.
Čvorović, Jelena. 2022. “Maternal Age at Marriage and Child Nutritional Status and Development: Evidence from Serbian Roma Communities.” Public Health Nutrition 25 (5):1183–1193. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980022000544
Desaunay, P., A. S. Perrin, and P. Gérardin. 2016. “Pregnancy and motherhood in adolescence.” Soins Pédiatrie/Puériculture 37 (291):14–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spp.2016.05.003.
Dwarakanath, M., F. Hossain, P. Balascio, M. C. Moore, A. V. Hill, and N. M. De Genna. 2023. “Barriers to Diagnosis of Postpartum Depression among Younger Black Mothers.” Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2500330/v1
Flaherty, S. C., and L. S. Sadler. 2022. “Parenting Stress among Adolescent Mothers: An Integrative Literature Review.” Western Journal of Nursing Research 44 (7):701–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459211014241
Font, S. A., M. Cancian, and L. M. Berger. 2019a. “Prevalence and Risk Factors for Early Motherhood among Low-Income, Maltreated, and Foster Youth.” Demography 56 (1):261–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-018-0744-x
Font, S. A., M. Cancian, and L. M. Berger. 2019b. “Prevalence and Risk Factors for Early Motherhood among Low-Income, Maltreated, and Foster Youth.” Demography 56 (1):261–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-018-0744-x
Gbogbo, Sitsofe. 2020. “Early Motherhood: Voices from Female Adolescents in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana—a Qualitative Study Utilizing Schlossberg’s Transition Theory.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being 15 (1):1716620. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2020.1716620
Genest, L., H. Decroix, D. Rotten, and L. Simmat-Durand. 2014. “Early motherhood: sociodemographic profiles of 220 teenage mothers in Seine-Saint-Denis.” Journal of Obstetric Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology (Paris) 43 (5):351–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgyn.2013.03.009
Hodnett, E.D., S. Gates, G. J. Hofmeyr, and C. Sakala. 2013. “Continuous Support for Women during Childbirth.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 7 (7):CD003766. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5
Holden, L., R. Hockey, R. S. Ware, and C. Lee. 2018. “Mental Health-Related Quality of Life and the Timing of Motherhood: A 16-Year Longitudinal Study of a National Cohort of Young Australian Women.” Quality of Life Research 27 (4):923–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-1786-7
Jack, S. M., E. Duku, H. Whitty, R. J. Van Lieshout, A. Niccols, K. Georgiades, and E. L. Lipman. 2022. “Young Mothers’ Use of and Experiences with Mental Health Care Services in Ontario, Canada: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.” BMC Women’s Health 22 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01804-z
Kang, H. K., B. Bisht, M. Kaur, O. Alexis, A. Worsley, and D. John. 2024. “Effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy in comparison to other psychological and pharmacological interventions for reducing depressive symptoms in women diagnosed with postpartum depression in low‐and middle‐income countries: A systematic review.” Campbell Systematic Reviews 20 (2):e1399.
Kaushik, V., and C. A. Walsh. 2019. “Pragmatism as a Research Paradigm and Its Implications for Social Work Research.” Social Sciences 8 (9):1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci8090255
Kirby, D. 2002. “Effective Approaches to Reducing Adolescent Unprotected Sex, Pregnancy, and Childbearing.” Journal of Sex Research 39 (1):51–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490209552120
Landry, I., C. René, and F. Demontigny. 2023. “Family Centered Nursing Practices towards Women and Their Families in the Birthing Context: A Qualitative Systematic Review.” Nursing Open 10 (9). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1880
Larkin, Patricia, C. M. Begley, and D. Devane. 2012. “‘Not Enough People to Look after You’: An Exploration of Women’s Experiences of Childbirth in the Republic of Ireland.” Midwifery 28 (1):98–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2010.11.007
Levey, E.J., A. E. Morfín, A. R. Chang, M. B. Rondon, M. Luisa, A. M. Harrison, B. Gelaye and A. E. Becker. 2023. “A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescent Motherhood within the Broader Family Context in Peru.” Family Relations 73 (2):1046–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12904
Lincoln, Y. S., and E. G. Guba. 1985. Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills: SAGE Publications.
Lindberg, Laura, John Santelli, and Sheila Desai. 2016. “Understanding the Decline in Adolescent Fertility in the United States, 2007–2012.” Journal of Adolescent Health 59 (5):577–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.024
Lindgren, B. M., B. Lundman, and U. H. Graneheim. 2020. “Abstraction and Interpretation during the Qualitative Content Analysis Process.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 108 (May):103632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103632
Lohan, M., A. Brennan-Wilson, R. Hunter, A. Gabrio, L. McDaid, H. Young, R. French, Á Aventin, M. Clarke, C. McDowell, D. Logan, S. Toase, L. O’Hare, C. Bonell, K. Gillespie, A. Gough, S. Lagdon, E. Warren, K. Buckley, R. Lewis, L. Adara, T. McShane, J. Bailey, and J. White. 2022. “Effects of Gender-Transformative Relationships and Sexuality Education to Reduce Adolescent Pregnancy (the JACK Trial): A Cluster-Randomised Trial.” The Lancet Public Health 7 (7):e626–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00117-7
Mangeli, M, M. Rayyani, M. A. Cheraghi, and B. Tirgari. 2018. “Iranian Mothers’ Experiences of the Outcomes of Early Motherhood: A Qualitative Study.” Social Work in Public Health 33 (3):163–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2018.1425648.
Mohammadi, N., S. Montazeri, J. Alaghband-rad, H. E. Ardabili, and M. Gharacheh. 2016. “Iranian pregnant teenage women tell the story of ‘fast development’: A phenomenological study.” Women and Birth 29 (4):303–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2015.11.003
Moridi, M., and F. Aminshokravi. 2018. “‘Ambivalence Perception’ the Consequence of Exposure to Pregnancy in Iranian Adolescent Women: A Qualitative Study.” Journal of Reproduction & Infertility 19:157–166.
Napoli, A., D. A. Lamis, I. Berardelli, V. Canzonetta, S. Sarubbi, E. Rogante, P. L. Napoli, G. Serafini, D. Erbuto, R. Tambelli, M. Amore, and M. Pompili. 2020. “Anxiety, Prenatal Attachment, and Depressive Symptoms in Women with Diabetes in Pregnancy.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(2):425. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020425
Ngum Chi Watts, M.C., P. Liamputtong, and C. Mcmichael. 2015. “Early motherhood: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of African Australian teenage mothers in greater Melbourne, Australia.” BMC Public Health 15 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2215-2
Choudhry, N. K., R. H. Fletcher, and S. B. Soumerai. 2005. “Systematic Review: The Relationship between Clinical Experience and Quality of Health Care.” Annals of Internal Medicine 142 (4):260. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-4-200502150-00008
Norton, Jessica R, Elif Dede Yildirim, Adrienne M Duke, and Regan Moss. 2023. “Parental support influencing the timing of repeat pregnancy for adolescent mothers.” Family Relations 72 (5):2679–2694. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12862
Philibert, L., and J. Lapierre. 2022. “Vulnerabilities and Strengths of Pregnant Haitian Adolescents and Their Families during Transition to Motherhood.” International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS (IJMA) 11 (2):e564. https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.564
Philibert, L., P. Ngangue, J. Lapierre, M. Paulin, A. Prophète, G. M. Kiki, and G. M. Ntanda. 2023. “Perception and experience of relatives of pregnant teenagers: a qualitative study in the North and Northeast departments of Haiti.” Journal of Public Health in Africa 14 (11):11–11. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2436
Sepeng, N. V., F. M. Mulaudzi, P. Mathivha, M. R. Musie, and R. J. Seretlo. 2023. “Strategies to enhance sexual health education for prevention of teenage pregnancy in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province: different stakeholder’s perspectives, a co-operative Inquiry qualitative protocol paper.” Reproductive Health 20 (1):120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01669-x
Souza, V. R. dos S., M. H. P. Marziale, G. T. R. Silva and P. L. Nascimento. 2021. “Translation and validation into Brazilian Portuguese and assessment of the COREQ checklist.” Acta paulista de enfermagem 34:eAPE02631. https://doi.org/10.37689/acta-ape/2021AO02631
Wado, Y. D., E. A. Sully, and J. N. Mumah. 2019. “Pregnancy and Early Motherhood among Adolescents in Five East African Countries: A Multi-Level Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 19 (1):59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2204-z
World Health Organization. 2007. “Adolescent pregnancy [electronic resource]: unmet needs and undone deeds: a review of the literature and programmes.” World Health Organization: Geneva
World Health Organization. 2011. The sexual and reproductive health of young adolescents in developing countries: reviewing the evidence, identifying research gaps, and moving the agenda: report of a WHO technical consultation, Geneva, 4-5 November 2010. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. 2015. Adolescent Pregnancy. World Health Organization: Geneva 2012.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Unisa Press
