ADOLESCENT MOTHERS EXPERIENCES OF PREGNANCY AND EARLY MOTHERHOOD: A QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS

Adolescent pregnancy is a complex issue, and it is considered as a social- health problem. Present study aimed to examine the experiences of teenage mothers of their pregnancy and motherhood in Tabriz city. In this qualitative phenomenological study, purposive sampling was used to select participants among women referred to Tabriz health centers, and it continued up to data saturation. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 11 adolescent mothers in the age of 15-19 years and were analyzed using conventional content analysis. 6 categories including need to family support, need to education, physical complications, religious beliefs, feeling of capability and maturation and negative feelings due to early pregnancy and parenting were merged. Comprehensive support and achieving to self-esteem were the main themes that were identified in this study. Becoming a mother during the adolescence is a difficult struggle because of inexperience, unprepared for motherhood and relying on others for support. Based on the findings of this study, adolescent mothers need to get a comprehensive support. In addition doing motherhood responsibility properly can help achieving mothers’ self-esteem. Support of spouse, family members, and also health care providers to this vulnerable group can have a positive impact on physical and emotional condition of adolescent mothers and their infants.