Thongmixay Souksamone, Essink Dirk, Kahrs Taewee, Vongxay Viengnakhone, Wright Pamela, Sychareun Vanphanom, Broerse Jacqueline E W
Faculty of Public Health, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Laos.
Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Front Glob Womens Health. 2023 Mar 8;4:986145. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2023.986145. eCollection 2023.
Teenage pregnancy is a persistent public health problem with pervasive socio-economic consequences, particularly in in low- and middle-income countries, often related to low social participation and low economic security. The experiences of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood have seldom been described from a personal point of view. This study aimed to gain insights into how adolescent mothers in Laos experience their motherhood, how they perceive their situation and try to cope with it.
This qualitative study was undertaken with 20 pregnant adolescents and young mothers living in peri-urban areas in two of the 18 provinces in Laos. Data were collected during 20 semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions ( = 10). Digital recordings were transcribed verbatim, summarised and thematically analysed using an inductive analysis and exploratory approach.
The most common theme was that the young mothers experienced exclusion individually, socially and in relation to official systems. In only two cases was the pregnancy intended. All were determined to be good mothers, but were overwhelmed and unsure how to overcome structural barriers to educational, social and economic participation.
Participants revealed that their adolescent pregnancy was tied to losses of past and future aspirations, and believed that working to prevent unintended adolescent pregnancy is worthwhile, but also advised that community support structures would help young women in their position.
青少年怀孕是一个持续存在的公共卫生问题，会产生广泛的社会经济后果，在低收入和中等收入国家尤为如此，这通常与社会参与度低和经济保障不足有关。青少年怀孕和成为母亲的经历很少从个人角度进行描述。本研究旨在深入了解老挝的青少年母亲如何体验为人母的感觉，她们如何看待自己的处境以及试图应对这种处境。
本定性研究对居住在老挝18个省份中两个省份城郊地区的20名怀孕青少年和年轻母亲进行。通过20次半结构化访谈和两次焦点小组讨论（共10人）收集数据。数字录音逐字转录、总结，并采用归纳分析和探索性方法进行主题分析。
最常见的主题是年轻母亲在个人、社会以及与官方系统的关系方面都经历了被排斥的情况。只有两例怀孕是有计划的。所有人都决心成为好母亲，但不堪重负，不确定如何克服教育、社会和经济参与方面的结构性障碍。
参与者表示，她们的青少年怀孕与过去和未来愿望的丧失有关，并认为努力预防意外青少年怀孕是值得的，但也建议社区支持结构将有助于处于她们这种处境的年轻女性。
