A phenomenological study on recurrent teenage pregnancies in effutu municipality- Ghana.the experiences of teenage mothers

Agartha Afful Boateng; Charles Owusu-Aduomi Botchwey; Bruce Afeti Adatorvor; Michael Afari Baidoo; Dorothy Serwaa Boakye; Richard Boateng

doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15074-3

A phenomenological study on recurrent teenage pregnancies in effutu municipality- Ghana.the experiences of teenage mothers

BMC Public Health. 2023 Feb 1;23(1):218. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15074-3.

Authors

Agartha Afful Boateng¹, Charles Owusu-Aduomi Botchwey², Bruce Afeti Adatorvor³, Michael Afari Baidoo², Dorothy Serwaa Boakye², Richard Boateng²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Post Office Box 25, Central Region, Winneba, Ghana. agartha594@gmail.com.
² Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Post Office Box 25, Central Region, Winneba, Ghana.
³ Volta Regional Hospital, Post Office Box 27, Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Generally, recurrent teenage pregnancies are public health menaces that impede the quality of life of teenage mothers, their offspring, and society as a whole. However, there is paucity of information regarding factors influencing this social issue especially, in developing countries where Ghana is no exception. Moreover, this menace has been least investigated from the perspective of the teenager with multiple pregnancies. Hence, this study aimed at identifying the factors influencing recurrent teenage pregnancies and the challenges confronted by these teenage mothers.

Method: This study is a phenomenological qualitative study that was conducted in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Employing convenience and snowball sampling, 40 participants who were residents of the study area, had a child each, and were pregnant at the time of the study were included. Other participants included teenage mothers who had at least two (2) children. A face-to-face in-depth interview with the help of an interview guide was conducted. Proceedings were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Quotations were used in the result presentation.

Results: The results of the study revealed that factors influencing recurrent teenage pregnancies are multifactorial. It includes peer pressure, parental neglect, poverty, living with a partner, and inadequate knowledge of family planning. The teenager with recurrent pregnancy is confronted with financial difficulties and is faced with stigmatisation in the society where she finds herself.

Conclusion: To this effect, it is important to intensify education on family planning and good parental practices among parents with teenage mothers while providing a similar form of sensitization for members of the society about the harmful effects of stigmatisation on the teenage mother and her children. Again, a social support network for teenagers with recurrent pregnancies could be formed to help curb this public health menace.

Keywords: Causes; Challenges; Recurrent teenage pregnancy; Teenage mothers.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Mothers
Child
Family Planning Services
Female
Ghana
Humans
Mothers
Pregnancy
Pregnancy in Adolescence*
Quality of Life