Experiences of mothers of pregnant unmarried adolescents in a community in Lesotho

[摘要] English: The mothers of pregnant unmarried adolescents often go through various difficultsituations as they attempt to support their adolescents through the pregnancy.Some of the problems they encounter can have harmful effects on their ownhealth, on the health of the pregnant adolescents and/or even on the developmentof the expected baby. In Lesotho it is socially unacceptable for an unmarriedadolescent to become pregnant. This state of illegitimacy usually carries a stigmaor deformation of character that can affect the adolescent mother-to-be and herchild before and/or after birth.The purpose of this study was firstly to explore and describe the experiences ofmothers (or mother-figures) who lived with pregnant unmarried adolescents in acommunity in Lesotho. Secondly, to formulate appropriate guidelines for supportingthe mothers of pregnant unmarried adolescents, depending on the findings, topromote, maintain and restore optimum health for themselves, the pregnantadolescents and their expected babies.An explanatory, descriptive, contextual qualitative research design was used. Datawere collected by in-depth phenomenological interviews. Guba's model of ensuringtrustworthiness was applied. The analysis of data was according to Tesch's (1990)model. The respondents were fourteen in all. Four themes that emerged from theanalysis of the results were: emotions, relationships, physical/social problems andreligion. The emotions that dominated in all the respondents were anger, hurt,worry and finally acceptance. The relationships between the respondents and theadolescents were supportive. However the relationships between the respondentsand their spouses, relatives and the community were either supportive or non supportive.Some of the physical/social problems that the respondents experiencedwere fatigue, sleeplessness, financial shortages and discrimination. The religion ofthe some respondents gave them the courage to face their problems, while otherrespondents were embarrassed and discriminated against by their churches. Theresults thus revealed both the negative and positive experiences of the mothers.However, as the mothers were the primary caregivers of the adolescents and thesource of material and emotional support, they had to carry all the problems relatedto the adolescents' pregnancies.Guidelines have been recommended in order to facilitate the mothers to mobilisetheir resources for better health for all, namely: the mothers themselves, thepregnant adolescents and their expected babies. The recommendations includeproviding counselling sessions for the mothers, in order to empower them withinformation on reproductive health. The mothers are the primary caregivers in thehomes, therefore need constant counselling sessions to help them to carry theirloads, since special issues like adolescent pregnancy place an additional burdenon them. Mothers and adolescents are encouraged to form support groups each,where they can learn life skills. Counselling seminars for the fathers have beenrecommended, so that they can support the mothers and the adolescents. Familylife education should be established and strengthened in the homes and schools.

[发布机构] University of the Free State