Exploring the Dilemmas, Challenges, and Opportunities of Adolescent Fatherhood: An Exploratory Case Study

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy is a significant concern for society, and the effect on education is immense. In South Africa, policies were thus introduced allowing pregnant school-going children to continue attending class until the baby’s birth. However, research on adolescent pregnancy generally ignores teenage fathers and focuses mostly on teenage mothers. Parents of teenage girls are also encouraged to offer support to their children, but the same cannot be said about adolescent fathers. They confront numerous barriers in fulfilling their parenting roles. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted to explore adolescent fathers’ dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities. Interviews were conducted to collect data from 5 adolescent fathers in 1 township in South Africa. Findings indicate that adolescent fathers face various challenges and experience fatherhood differently. The phenomenon’s effects on education are immense and unavoidable, yet some opportunities accompany the fathering role. Adolescent fathers are exposed to several complex situations that impact their lives. To understand these, further research studies into adolescent fatherhood still need to be conducted, and reproductive health education efforts should equally be directed toward empowering boys to the same extent as girls.

Fathers’ involvement in pregnancy and childbirth in Africa: an integrative systematic review

“…On the contrary, studies reported fathers wanting to be present and involved during their child’s birth and infancy, but being prevented from doing so. This was mentioned in studies looking at adolescent fathers who wished to build a relationship with their child as well as provide financial support [ 35 , 36 , 39 ]. For many adolescent fathers, having a child limited their education as generating income became a higher priority.…”

“…Multiple studies presented data reflecting both traditional and more egalitarian views coming from different sample cross-sections. Some studies inferred influential factors, concluding that fathers with higher levels of education, who lived in more urban areas, had more knowledge about maternity services, and/or were from younger age cohorts were more likely to be involved partners [ 21–23 , 26 , 29 , 35 , 36 , 39–41 , 47 , 49 ]. Men from these groups more than others expressed the desire to be active participants in the pregnancy and childbirth process.…”

“…Another study in Tanzania described men being more involved in household chores and caring for their older children during their partners’ pregnancies [ 40 ]. Three studies of fathers’ experiences in South Africa shared their positive emotions regarding feeling attached and building love and connection with their children [ 35–37 ].…”

“…Financial pressure was cited by fathers in seven studies as a barrier to their participation in ANC services [ 28 , 30 , 35 , 36 , 41 , 45 , 46 ]. The pressure of needing to provide for their families and the possibility of a lost day of income were major elements of fathers’ experience when determining their level of involvement in their partner’s pregnancy and childbirth process.…”

“…They matured. Makhavhu et al, 2023 [ 35 ] Semi-structured interviews 5 teenage fathers Quality: 5 19 Navigating relationship dynamics, pregnancy and fatherhood in the Bukhali trial: a qualitative study with men in Soweto, South Africa Qualitative Explore individual perceptions around relationship dynamics, partner pregnancy, and fatherhood South Africa Most partners not married. Significant concern expressed by fathers about providing for children.…”