Intragroup Accounts of Teenage Motherhood: A Community Based Psychological Perspective

Abstract

Using community based and women-centred perspectives, this study explored experiences of unplanned motherhood during adolescence. Ten African teenage mothers from a semi-rural area in KwaZulu-Natal volunteered to meet once a week for eight weeks to discuss their experiences of pregnancy and motherhood. The findings are discussed in the context of the effect of teenage motherhood on self, on family and peer relationships, traditional Zulu customs, and community support. Current relationships with partners and concerns about the future are also reported. The results indicate the need for school-based programmes and parent groups for adolescent mothers that will enhance their ability to examine options with a view to establishing a trajectory towards better life outcomes. Community health workers were also identified as resource personnel for enabling teenage mothers in rural and semi-rural areas to cope with their concerns and develop a way of understanding them.

Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy: Moral Concerns and Emotional Experiences among Black South African Adolescents

“…This is illustrated by the following: There was thus a perception of moral sanctions against both extramarital pregnancies and abortion. These findings link with those of other studies that showed negative reactions by parents and community members towards teenage pregnancies (De Visser & Le Roux, 1996;Parekh & De la Rey, 1997;Thobejane, 2001). …”

Adolescents’ Lived Experiences of Their Pregnancy and Parenting in a Semi-Rural Community in the Western Cape

“…Female participants also felt unsupported in the sense that their relationships with the fathers of their children were often disapproved of, and family members frequently tried to keep them from what Kershaw et al, (2013:299) view as a potentially significant source of support. Some South African studies have indicated that adolescent mothers need more emotional support from parents and sorely miss peer and partner support (De Visser & Le Roux, 1996;Parekh & De la Rey, 1997). Adolescent fathers, in turn, have expressed a need for increased support in the practical and informational spheres (Swartz & Bhana, 2009:94,96).…”

Exploring Unplanned Pregnancy Amongst University Students

“…Fox and Inazu (1980) reported similar findings, namely that few parents gave much direct instruction about sexuality, sexual intercourse or contraception. Respondents had mainly discussed sex with their peers or had learnt about it from the media, both of which were unreliable and sensationalised sex and promiscuity (Parekh & De la Rey, 1997). The authors endorse the view of Mayekiso and Twaise (1992), who believe that parents should be key informants about sex, a difficulty in traditional homes as sex is not openly discussed (Wilbraham, 2002).…”