Comparison of Quality of Infant Care and Transition Difficulty to Motherhood Between Adolescent and Young Mothers

Abstract

Background: Despite a lower teenage pregnancy rate in Iran compared to the global average, there is an anticipation of increased teenage pregnancy rates by 2025 due to changes in population policy programs. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the challenges faced during the transition to motherhood and the quality of infant care between adolescent mothers and young mothers in Karaj, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020, involving 160 adolescent and young mothers selected through multistage sampling in Karaj, Iran. The data were collected using demographic characteristics, a modified questionnaire assessing the challenges of the transition to parenthood, and an infant care checklist. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD), were reported. Data analysis was carried out using the chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The study showed no significant differences between adolescent and young mothers in terms of mean scores related to the challenges of the transition to parenthood, such as responsibility and commitment, pleasure and satisfaction, fondness and stability, and self-commitment (P ≥ 0.05). However, significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in the total score of infant care (33.07 ± 2.77 and 34.57 ± 2.65, P = 0.002), child disease care (10.63 ± 0.73 and 11.03 ± 1.20, P = 0.034), routine child care (5.38 ± 1.23 and 5.83 ± 1.28, P = 0.039), and maternal health (13.37 ± 1.60 and 14.29 ± 1.29, P < 0.0001) for adolescents and young mothers, respectively. Conclusions: Based on the study’s results, teenage mothers might benefit from support programs provided by healthcare providers, particularly midwives and doctors, to enhance their abilities to care for their children.