Building a “Better Life”

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy is often described as a major concern in public health and is associated with negative outcomes for educational and career attainment. Our objective was to compare the future aspirations of pregnant and parenting adolescents and identify social or structural barriers that they experience in their daily lives using journal entries from pregnant and parenting adolescents. The journals, which served as primary data sources, were completed by 52 multi-ethnic pregnant and parenting adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Indiana. Both pregnant and parenting adolescents aspired to provide a "better life" for their children that included finishing school and obtaining a career. An emergent theme is that the experience of pregnancy and parenting is transformative and may invoke a positive refocusing of life aspirations for educational and career attainment. However, social stigma and barriers exist that make achieving educational and employment opportunities difficult. The study findings indicate that pregnant and parenting adolescents need strong social support networks and practical tools to help harness their motivation and transcend social and material barriers to achieve their goals and aspirations.

“I have to provide for another life emotionally, physically and financially”: understanding pregnancy, motherhood and the future aspirations of adolescent mothers in KwaZulu-Natal South, Africa

“…On a positive note, the participants in this study shared their dreams and aspirations for the future. They envisioned completing their education and focusing on their dream careers and some verbalised the hope of contributing meaningfully to society [58,81]. Previous studies have shown that adolescent mothers can be resilient and that they can persevere to achieve a brighter future for themselves and their children, and most consider that their future is interconnected with that of their children.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that adolescent mothers can be resilient and that they can persevere to achieve a brighter future for themselves and their children, and most consider that their future is interconnected with that of their children. A study by O'Brien Cherry et al [81] in Indiana in the US found that all 52 of the participating adolescent mothers aspired to provide a worthy future for their children by completing school and following a career. Adolescent mothers who had persevered through high school attributed their success to hope, confidence, determination, self-assurance, encouragement, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, respect, and support from their teachers, alternative classes, the community, life skills programmes, and their peers [81].…”

Access to Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Information and Services in Ghana: A Community-Based Case-Control Study

“…The study population included female adolescents (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) years in the KEEA Municipality. A sum of 7,667 females (10-19 years), including both pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents represented the study population (50).…”

“…There are several detrimental health, psychosocial, and economic consequences connected with AP that are disturbing and should not be underestimated (18)(19)(20)(21). Research till date has proven that pregnant females younger than 17 years have a higher incidence of health complications related to mother and child compared to grown-up women, though these complications may be more severe among youngest adolescents (22,23).…”

“…Generally, AP carries a greater risk of critical maternal and neonatal outcomes. For example, AP has been connected to medical problems, including but not limited to undesirable maternal weight increase, prematurity (birth at <37 weeks' gestation), pregnancy-induced hypertension, anemia, urinary tract infection, post-partum hemorrhage, mental disorders (e.g., depression), and STDs (3,18,22,23). Available records show that nearly 14% of babies born to adolescents 17 years or younger are preterm compared to 6% for women 25-29 years of age.…”