Analysing the experience of motherhood among adolescents living with HIV

Abstract

Aim: Adolescent motherhood is considered a condition of vulnerability that can be further complicated by the presence of HIV infection, but little is known about how adolescent mothers experience this process. The aim of this study was to analyse the experience of motherhood among adolescents living with HIV. Method: Seven mothers (15-21 years) recruited in specialized services in Porto Alegre/Brazil, whose babies' ages ranged from four to six months, were interviewed. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results:The qualitative content analysis of the interviews revealed a positive vision of motherhood, related to satisfaction with the maternal role and personal fulfilment. Pregnancy and motherhood served to these adolescents as an encouragement for self-care. The mothers' difficulties were related to HIV and to the repercussions of this clinical condition, especially feelings of frustration and incompleteness of motherhood on the impossibility of breastfeeding, as well as fear facing the risk of MTCT. Conclusion: Future research of longitudinal design and with larger samples will be important to extend the knowledge of the specificities of this experience over time for young people of different ages and social backgrounds. When motherhood occurs during adolescence, the demands that are typical of this event (e.g., ability to adapt to their new role as a parent) overlap with those expected for their developmental stage (DeVito, 2010).Adolescent motherhood can be further complicated when occurring simultaneously with the presence of a medical condition such as HIV infection. Adolescent motherhood in the HIV context is, however, a theme that has been underrepresented in research. Most studies examining motherhood in this context largely focused on the experiences of adult women (Kennedy et al., 2014; Sanders, 2008). Existing studies that involved adolescents with HIV has mostly focused on topics such as pregnancy incidence (Elgalib et al., 2011) motherhood from the adolescents' point of view. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the experience of motherhood among adolescent mothers living with HIV.Motherhood entails the early assumption of various responsibilities by the adolescent, assuming roles for which she may still not be prepared. In the literature, it was not possible to identify a single pattern regarding the experience of motherhood among adolescents. While for some being a mother was a positive experience, others perceived it as a cause of frustration. Santos and Schor (2003) identified these two types of experiences among Brazilian adolescents, who were both happy about the greater maturity and autonomy, but also sad and distressed due to the lack of support for caring the baby. Recently, Smith, Skinner, and Fenwick (2012) also showed that adolescents reported a vision of motherhood as a positive experience that fostered an opportunity to reduce risk behaviours (e.g., use of drugs and alcohol), to demonstrate personal growth and to become independent.The presence ...

A Atuação Da Enfermagem Na Depressão Pós-Parto Em Puérperas

“…Experienciar a maternidade em conjunto com a soropositividade é fator gerador de dúvidas, medos e provavelmente parte deste medo seja proveniente das novidades relacionadas à maternidade e a possibilidade de contaminação do filho. Reforçase então a importância do profissional que acompanha o pré-natal estar atento as necessidades da mulher, buscando acolhê-la e sanar suas inquietações (MATÃO, et al, 2014;CARTAXO, 2013;BERTAGNOLI, 2012;RITTA, et al, 2017).…”