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Cited by 84Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthReproductive Health and ContraceptionAdolescent Health and Behaviors

I have to provide for another life emotionally, physically and financially”: understanding pregnancy, motherhood and the future aspirations of adolescent mothers in KwaZulu-natal south, Africa

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Govender, Desiree, Naidoo, Saloshni, Taylor, Myra·2020·BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
DOI 10.1186/s12884-020-03319-7PMC PMC7557067

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Abstract

Background: Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood has been a controversial and much disputed subject within the field of public health. Early childbearing is not only characterized as a physical body experience but also embodies the experiences and perceptions of the social norms, discourses, conflict and moral judgement. There is an increasing concern that the psychosocial challenges facing adolescent mothers remains in the background since research in this field has mainly focused on the medical and physical complications of early childbearing. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in order to understand this phenomenon from the perspective of adolescent mothers and to gain insight into their future aspirations. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was based on data from four focus group discussions with adolescent mothers utilising healthcare services at a district hospital in Ugu district, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Some adolescent mothers’ partners were in denial and rejected them and the child while others’ partners were happy and supported them during their pregnancy. Families’ reactions to the pregnancies ranged between anger and disappointment to abandonment, the silent treatment, and acceptance and forgiveness. The psychological issues experienced by some of the adolescent mothers included suicidal ideation, guilt, loneliness, anxiety, and stress. They also experienced financial constraints, difficulty in returning to school, and stigmatisation in society. The participants envisioned completing their education, focusing on their dream careers, and contributing positively to society. Conclusion: Experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenting are multifaceted and the healthcare needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents extend beyond information and knowledge. A multidisciplinary approach is required in the care of adolescent mothers. A key policy priority should encompass the collaboration of different professionals from various healthcare sectors to assist adolescent mothers in achieving better health and psychosocial and socio-economic outcomes as steps to securing a better future for them.

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  • Maternal subjectivity is dynamic over time.

    “The concept recognises that motherhood is far from being a one-size-fits-all experience, and that each mother possesses her own set of emotions, thoughts and identity in the journey of parenthood, which is, importantly, dynamic over time (5–12).”

    From “Motherhood is a work in progress”: a qualitative longitudinal study of maternal subjectivity and well-being of women in the Bukhali trial in Soweto, South Africa (2026) · cites this paper as [7]

    The Results section describes adolescent mothers’ changing priorities after pregnancy, and the Background discusses conflicting identities during the transition to motherhood. These passages support change over time in the experiences of adolescent mothers, but do not establish the broader claim about every mother’s subjectivity. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Post-apartheid unemployment in South Africa is extremely high, often requiring women to work outside the home and therefore not be available to care for their children full-time.

    “Now, post-apartheid, unemployment in South Africa is extremely high, often requiring women to work outside the home and therefore not be available to care for their children full-time (7, 17).”

    From “Motherhood is a work in progress”: a qualitative longitudinal study of maternal subjectivity and well-being of women in the Bukhali trial in Soweto, South Africa (2026) · cites this paper as [7]

    The Discussion reports financial hardship among adolescent mothers, and the Results describe childcare difficulties that prevented some from returning to school. Neither section addresses the claim that post-apartheid unemployment is extremely high or that women consequently work outside the home and cannot care for their children full-time (searched: unemployment, work outside the home, childcare). (LLM, conf=0.75)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Govender, D., Naidoo, S., & Taylor, M.
Affiliations
University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
Corresponding author
Govender, Desiree
ORCID
Venue
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-10-14
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
620-620
ISSN
1471-2393 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12884-020-03319-7
PMC
PMC7557067
OpenAlex
W3093258721
Cited by
84
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 2
FWCI
8.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
NIH/Fogarty (D43TW010131)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Health and Behaviors
Keywords
adolescent pregnancy, adolescent motherhood, future aspirations, psychosocial problems, partner rejection, family reactions, suicidal ideation, financial constraints, stigmatization, returning to school, multidisciplinary care, KwaZulu-Natal
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Educational Status, Emotions, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Maternal Age, Mothers, Paternal Age, Pregnancy, Pregnancy in Adolescence, Sexual Partners, Socioeconomic Factors, South Africa, Parenting, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, Pregnancy, Unplanned, Young Adult

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