Background/Aims Adolescent pregnancy has become a global concern because of its potential impact on health and childbirth, as well as its socioeconomic and psychological consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnant adolescents' experiences seeking healthcare, to identify factors influencing their use of maternal healthcare services. Methods A scoping review for articles published in the last 10 years from six databases was conducted. A total of 25 studies that described pregnant adolescents' health-seeking behaviour during pregnancy and childbirth were included. Results The majority of studies were conducted in Africa and most aimed to assess factors influencing health-seeking behaviours and use of antenatal care among pregnant adolescents. Ten studies used behavioural change theories and models. Several enabling factors and barriers influencing behaviour were identified. Conclusions Adolescents, families, communities and healthcare providers should work together to promote health-seeking behaviours among pregnant adolescents. Midwives should encourage pregnant adolescents to visit healthcare centres and provide positive antenatal care experiences.
This article discusses the challenges in ensuring women have appropriate education to guide their decision on when to present to hospital during labour. Unnecessary admission to the delivery suite can cause overcrowding, which may affect the services provided to women in active labour. Pregnancy is a demanding and sometimes overwhelming experience and women's fears can be compounded if they do not know what to expect from labour. Antenatal education to inform women on the signs and symptoms of the first stage of labour, and how to recognise deviations from normal, is vital in encapsulating holistic antenatal care. Therefore, antenatal education is integral to positive pregnancy outcomes, enhancing women's ability to take control of their pregnancy by undertaking self-management at home prior to the onset of active labour and their confidence in coming to the delivery suite at the appropriate time.
Adolescents pregnant mothers can potentially have a problem related to their immature physics and psychology. Their health-care-seeking practice is essential to ensure that adolescent pregnant mothers receive adequate care during their pregnancy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, online media should be perceived as an alternative way to help adolescents seek care during pregnancy. This study aimed to explore the experiences of pregnant adolescent mothers who had practiced health-care seeking and followed online counseling using WhatsApp groups. This qualitative survey recruited 16 Indonesian pregnant mothers aged 15-19 who had followed WhatsApp online counseling. An open-ended questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analyzed using thematic content analysis. There were three themes related to pregnant adolescent care-seeking practices using WhatsApp groups: experience, benefits, and advice and hope. The experience had three sub-theme: present experiences, previous experiences, and hindering factors. The benefits had sub-themes: benefits of WhatsApp counseling and benefits of Group WhastApp. Their hopes and advices were: no advice, be polite, be consistent, be patient, and be duplicated by others. Adolescent pregnant mothers had good experiences in practicing health-care seeking using WhatsApp groups. They were more enthusiastic about following the counseling process and found beneficial information and solution regarding their problem during pregnancy. The findings show that providing WhatsApp groups for adolescent pregnant mothers could benefit them.
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