Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers

Desiree Govender,1,2 Myra Taylor,2 Saloshni Naidoo2 1KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa Developing Research Innovation Localisation and Leadership (DRILL) Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; 2School of Nursing and Public Health, Discipline of Public Health Med...

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Main Authors: Govender D, Taylor M, Naidoo S
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-11-01
Series:Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/adolescent-pregnancy-and-parenting-perceptions-of-healthcare-providers-peer-reviewed-article-JMDH
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author Govender D
Taylor M
Naidoo S
author_facet Govender D
Taylor M
Naidoo S
author_sort Govender D
collection DOAJ
description Desiree Govender,1,2 Myra Taylor,2 Saloshni Naidoo2 1KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa Developing Research Innovation Localisation and Leadership (DRILL) Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; 2School of Nursing and Public Health, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaCorrespondence: Desiree Govender Email desireegovender19@gmail.comBackground: Adverse maternal and child health outcomes due to adolescent pregnancy are central to public health research and practice. In addition, public health has emphasised that the care rendered by healthcare providers plays a pivotal role in the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Healthcare providers may differ in the ways they interpret adolescent pregnancy and parenting and consequently, this may have profound implications for healthcare decision making. The aim of this study was to explore the multiple perspectives of a diverse group of healthcare providers’ delivering services and engaging with pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers at a district hospital in Ugu, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.Methods: This descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews (n=33). Healthcare providers rendering care to pregnant and parenting adolescents were recruited from the maternity, antenatal, paediatrics, psychology, dietetics, physiotherapy and social work departments, as well as from the HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB (HAST) programme. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: The healthcare providers acknowledged that adolescent pregnancy is a problematic issue in Ugu district. Furthermore, they felt that the postpartum sexual-related and reproductive health of adolescent mothers was not given priority. In the healthcare providers’ view, the problems experienced by pregnant and parenting adolescents were school dropout, financial constraints, breakdown of relationships, abandonment, stigmatisation, parenting and child rearing difficulties, and both physical and mental health problems.Conclusion: This study highlights that the issue of sexual- and reproductive-related outcomes of adolescent pregnancy and parenting is not given priority. In addition, the findings also highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the care of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Multidisciplinary communities of practices as interventions can be used to generate and share knowledge, capacitate healthcare providers and improve clinical practice. The training of healthcare providers, provision of non-judgemental counselling and tailored services for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers are essential. When appropriately disseminated, the findings will assist relevant healthcare providers, administrators in healthcare institutions, policymakers, and officials of the Department of Health and the Department of Education in South Africa to address the lack of appropriate care for pregnant and parenting adolescents.Keywords: South Africa, adolescent pregnancy, adolescent parenting, healthcare providers, healthcare services, sexual and reproductive health
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spelling doaj.art-43332ad96ff04bfa8a493b0705957ed12022-12-21T23:08:33ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare1178-23902020-11-01Volume 131607162859430Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare ProvidersGovender DTaylor MNaidoo SDesiree Govender,1,2 Myra Taylor,2 Saloshni Naidoo2 1KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, South Africa Developing Research Innovation Localisation and Leadership (DRILL) Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; 2School of Nursing and Public Health, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaCorrespondence: Desiree Govender Email desireegovender19@gmail.comBackground: Adverse maternal and child health outcomes due to adolescent pregnancy are central to public health research and practice. In addition, public health has emphasised that the care rendered by healthcare providers plays a pivotal role in the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Healthcare providers may differ in the ways they interpret adolescent pregnancy and parenting and consequently, this may have profound implications for healthcare decision making. The aim of this study was to explore the multiple perspectives of a diverse group of healthcare providers’ delivering services and engaging with pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers at a district hospital in Ugu, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.Methods: This descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews (n=33). Healthcare providers rendering care to pregnant and parenting adolescents were recruited from the maternity, antenatal, paediatrics, psychology, dietetics, physiotherapy and social work departments, as well as from the HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB (HAST) programme. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: The healthcare providers acknowledged that adolescent pregnancy is a problematic issue in Ugu district. Furthermore, they felt that the postpartum sexual-related and reproductive health of adolescent mothers was not given priority. In the healthcare providers’ view, the problems experienced by pregnant and parenting adolescents were school dropout, financial constraints, breakdown of relationships, abandonment, stigmatisation, parenting and child rearing difficulties, and both physical and mental health problems.Conclusion: This study highlights that the issue of sexual- and reproductive-related outcomes of adolescent pregnancy and parenting is not given priority. In addition, the findings also highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the care of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Multidisciplinary communities of practices as interventions can be used to generate and share knowledge, capacitate healthcare providers and improve clinical practice. The training of healthcare providers, provision of non-judgemental counselling and tailored services for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers are essential. When appropriately disseminated, the findings will assist relevant healthcare providers, administrators in healthcare institutions, policymakers, and officials of the Department of Health and the Department of Education in South Africa to address the lack of appropriate care for pregnant and parenting adolescents.Keywords: South Africa, adolescent pregnancy, adolescent parenting, healthcare providers, healthcare services, sexual and reproductive healthhttps://www.dovepress.com/adolescent-pregnancy-and-parenting-perceptions-of-healthcare-providers-peer-reviewed-article-JMDHsouth africaadolescent pregnancyadolescent parentinghealthcare providershealthcare servicessexual and reproductive health
spellingShingle Govender D
Taylor M
Naidoo S
Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare
south africa
adolescent pregnancy
adolescent parenting
healthcare providers
healthcare services
sexual and reproductive health
title Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers
title_full Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers
title_fullStr Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers
title_full_unstemmed Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers
title_short Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers
title_sort adolescent pregnancy and parenting perceptions of healthcare providers
topic south africa
adolescent pregnancy
adolescent parenting
healthcare providers
healthcare services
sexual and reproductive health
url https://www.dovepress.com/adolescent-pregnancy-and-parenting-perceptions-of-healthcare-providers-peer-reviewed-article-JMDH
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