Which factors affect postpartum educational enrollment of adolescent mothers in South Africa? A latent class analysis

Abstract

Interrupted education of adolescent mothers remains a major concern, but limited evidence-based programming exists to support postpartum schooling of this group. This study aimed to better understand the factors that render some adolescent mothers vulnerable to school non-enrollment, and how to reduce these risks. Data from 1,046 adolescent and young mothers (10-24 years) from rural and urban communities in South Africa's Eastern Cape was obtained through a questionnaire containing validated and studyspecific measures relating to sociodemographic characteristics, schooling, relationships, violence exposure, and health. Using latent class analysis, we explored emerging latent groups and their relationship to mothers' enrollment in school, college, or tertiary education. The analyses revealed three distinct groups of mothers: The 'most disadvantaged' subgroup (39%) experienced multiple risks, including food insecurity, living in informal housing, lacking positive relationships with their caregiver, and the highest distance to school; The 'disadvantaged' subgroup (44%) did not experience food insecurity whilst reporting better caregiver relationships and lower distance to school. However, this group still showed high probabilities of residing in informal housing and in communities that expose them to violence; A 'least disadvantaged' subgroup (17%) was largely unaffected by economic and community risks and experienced good caregiver relationships. Compared to the most disadvantaged mothers, the least disadvantaged mothers showed the highest probability of being enrolled in education (65% versus 45%). Adolescent motherhood can impede continued enrollment in education and individual-centered interventions alone might not be sufficient to mitigate the risks for nonenrollment. Services and provisions that address severe poverty and improve family relationships might provide an opportunity to positively influence schooling among adolescent mothers.

Associations of formal childcare use with health and human capital development for adolescent mothers and their children in South Africa: A cross‐sectional study

“…Previous research showed that, across 73 developing countries, increasing preschool enrolment to 50% in a single year could increase a countries' productivity by $33 billion across those children's lifetimes (Engle et al, 2011 ). Evidence‐based multi‐sectoral packages, which could include access to childcare, for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers are a crucial step in supporting their school progression and HIV risk reduction, strengthening positive future outlook and supporting the healthy development for the next generation (Cluver et al, 2022 ; Jochim et al, Forthcoming ). There are important future areas for research in understanding associations of different kinds of childcare settings with child and adolescent mother outcomes and differential impacts by age of children.…”

Achieving the health and well-being Sustainable Development Goals among adolescent mothers and their children in South Africa: Cross-sectional analyses of a community-based mixed HIV-status cohort

“…Children of adolescent mothers are growing up in conditions that put their future attainment of SDGs at risk [ 23 ]. Access to provisions such as childcare support and early childhood development is very limited [ 42 ], with missed opportunities both to provide stimulation for children and allow mothers to return to education or employment [ 43 , 44 ]. In the context of potential detrimental effects due to HIV or ART exposure in utero and post-partum on child development [ 45 ], understanding patterns, barriers and facilitators of childcare access is an important step to designing supportive services for adolescent mothers and their children.…”