To Siu-Ming, Chu Fung
Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research, Faculty of Education, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC.
Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2009 Oct-Dec;21(4):531-43. doi: 10.1515/ijamh.2009.21.4.531.
Research in the West has increasingly recognized the importance of understanding the perceptions and experiences of young pregnant females; however, limited studies are available in Chinese societies. This paper investigates the experiences of 10 young pregnant Chinese females living in Hong Kong. Through the use of individual interviews and the method of interpretive phenomenological analysis, the researchers were able to explore how the research participants made sense of their personal and social worlds. This research strategy also adds a cultural perspective in analyzing their stories in the context of Hong Kong. Recurrent themes identified in their stories revealed their thoughts, feelings, and actions in encountering the unintended pregnancy. The themes can be grouped into four categories, namely 1) pregnancy resolution: self-determination vs. significant others' influences; 2) emotional experiences after the termination of pregnancy: sense of relief vs. sense of guilt and sadness; 3) identity of young pregnant females: self-perception vs. others' perceptions and 4) pursuing an intimate relationship: love vs. sex. The findings provide a knowledge base for an understanding of the perspectives of young pregnant women and open up valuable reflections and discussions about adolescent pregnancy in Chinese societies. Implications can also be drawn for intervention, prevention, and research.
西方的研究越来越认识到了解年轻怀孕女性的观念和经历的重要性；然而，在中国社会，相关研究却很有限。本文调查了10名居住在香港的年轻中国怀孕女性的经历。通过个人访谈和解释现象学分析方法，研究人员得以探究研究参与者如何理解她们的个人世界和社会世界。这种研究策略还为在香港背景下分析她们的故事增添了文化视角。在她们的故事中反复出现的主题揭示了她们在意外怀孕时的想法、感受和行为。这些主题可分为四类，即1）怀孕解决方式：自主决定与重要他人的影响；2）终止妊娠后的情感体验：解脱感与内疚和悲伤感；3）年轻怀孕女性的身份认同：自我认知与他人认知；4）追求亲密关系：爱与性。这些发现为理解年轻孕妇的观点提供了知识基础，并开启了关于中国社会青少年怀孕问题的宝贵思考和讨论。研究结果还可为干预、预防和研究提供参考。
