Teenage mothers' experiences of motherhood : schooling, stigma and learned responsibility : a case study of teenage mothers of school going age in a peri-urban area in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study seeks to contribute to research that seeks to understand experiences of teenagemotherhood. Drawing on the experiences of fifteen (15) teenage mothers between the ages of15 to 19 years old, in and out of school, this study investigates the experiences of motherhoodamong a sample of teenage mothers in a peri-urban area in KwaZulu Natal. Utilising thequalitative approach in the form of semi-structured interviews, the study aimed to investigateteenage mothers' experiences of motherhood. The focus is of the study is mainly onunderstanding factors that lead to teenage pregnancy, teenage mothers own risky sexualbehavior and lack of access to contraceptives and how this has a bearing on teenage pregnancy.The study further examines the stigma experienced by teenage mothers as well as the genderednotions of this experience. Teenage mothers' reasons for staying in school, as well as the factorsleading up to those decide to leave school are also explored in the study.Findings suggest that teenage motherhood presents with feelings of fear and sadness at therealisation of the pregnancy. Family reactions at finding out also differ with some experiencinganger, and disappointment at the pregnancy. Often, participants reported that they were notaware that they were pregnant and had symptoms of teenage pregnancy and for some;knowledge of their pregnancy came from the boyfriend and father of the child before theirrealised that they are pregnant.The participants related reasons for returning to school as influenced by their need to have abetter job in the future and to take care of their children. Others returned to school because ofinfluence by parents who had been teenage mothers and returned to school. Some of theparticipants argued that support from teachers played a role in decisions to stay in school. Thoseparticipants who left school did so due to lack of support from family and friends and teachersattitudes towards them during and after the pregnancy, as well as financial constraints and nothaving anyone to take care of the child while they are in school. I conclude that understandinghow teenage mothers themselves experience motherhood will assist in unravelling the complexsituations and inform policy on structural, context-specific interventions that will help keepteenage mothers in the education system.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University