Parentalité à l’adolescence : déterminants et conséquences

[Teenage pregnancy: when digital social networks support becoming a mother]

The onset of pregnancy during adolescence brings with it upheavals for the body, identity, family and society. This particular context can make some teenagers psychopathologically fragile, while others adapt perfectly. When these mothers-to-be receive support, their adjustment to pregnancy seems to be facilitated. At present, it seems easy for teenagers to maintain contacts and thus benefit from a form of support on digital social networks. Recently discussed in the literature, the latter could represent a source of social support in this type of pregnancy, but also of support for the identity process of becoming a mother.

Healthcare professionals' experience of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in Haiti

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals' experience of pregnant and motherhood in adolescence in Haiti.

METHODS

The methodology for collecting and analyzing qualitative data was based on John Dewey's social survey. The study was conducted in nine health institutions in the North and North-East departments of Haiti from October 2020 to January 2021. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with 15 healthcare professionals. All interviews were audio-recorded. The recordings were listened to carefully and transcribed in verbatim form. After checking and validation, the verbatims in Word format were exported to QDA Miner software version 6.0.5 for coding. The data were analyzed using Paillé and Mucchielli thematic analyses.

RESULTS

Health professionals such as gynecologists, nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, matrons and health workers took part in the study. These study participants indicate that teenage pregnancy and motherhood are social and public health problems whose negative consequences affect teenage girls, children, healthcare professionals, the healthcare system, and Haitian society in general. The services offered to adolescent girls are medical, educational, psychological, economic, and social in nature. When caring for pregnant adolescents during the transition to motherhood, healthcare professionals face many challenges that are linked to the socio-economic status and physiological reality of adolescents, as well as the healthcare system.

CONCLUSIONS

Programs involving home care visits should also be set up to offer ongoing support to pregnant or parenting teenagers. The distribution of food aid or materials such as clothing, hygiene products and baby kits should also be considered.

[Pregnancy and motherhood in adolescence]

Adolescence and pregnancy are two periods which involve major psychological and identity changes. Teenage pregnancies are often considered to be a result of a confusion between these periods. The circumstances of teenage pregnancies and early motherhood are diverse and sit within the wider context of the psychopathology of adolescence, the heterogeneity of family configurations and evolutions in society.