teenage pregnancy; adolescent mothers; sexual and reproductive health needs; qualitative study; transition to parenthood
Abstract :
[en] OBJECTIVES: We looked at early pregnancy and parenthood as an opportunity to broaden our understanding of the reproductive health education needs met by adolescent girls. METHODS: We conducted an in-depth interview study with 12 adolescent mothers. RESULTS: To become a mother at a young age was perceived as meaningful to all the participants. The participants expressed a need to be addressed as adult parents, who want the best for their child. A variety of psychosocial and health needs emerged over a time span ranging from starting to be sexually active to after the child was born. Social isolation was found to be an important factor of vulnerability. CONCLUSION: The health needs of adolescent mothers extend well beyond counselling around the decision to continue or terminate pregnancy, and subsequent information on contraception methods to avoid further pregnancies. Adolescent mothers need to be supported in their transition to parenthood, and special care should be provided to girls who are socially isolated. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: We identified several avenues for health education and counselling to adolescent mothers, from primary prevention to reduce incidence of early pregnancies to tertiary prevention to reduce negative health outcomes for both mother and child.
Disciplines :
Public health, health care sciences & services Reproductive medicine (gynecology, andrology, obstetrics)
Author, co-author :
Aujoulat, Isabelle; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL > Institut de Recherche Santé et Société
Libion, F.
Berrewaerts, Joëlle; Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix - Namur - FUNDP > Département de Psychologie
Noirhomme-Renard, Florence ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Santé publique : aspects généraux
Deccache, Alain; Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL
Language :
English
Title :
Adolescent mothers' perspectives regarding their own psychosocial and health needs: A qualitative exploratory study in Belgium.
Publication date :
December 2010
Journal title :
Patient Education and Counseling
ISSN :
0738-3991
eISSN :
1873-5134
Publisher :
Elsevier, Limerick, Ireland
Volume :
81
Issue :
3
Pages :
448-53
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Commentary :
Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
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