Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study
Abstract Background Teenage childbirth is an issue of social and public health concern in Ghana, with high prevalence in some regions, including the Central Region. There is a dire need to understand the experiences of teenagers beyond pregnancies to facilitate comprehensive sexual and reproductive...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21376-5 |
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| author | Reuben Foster Twintoh Hubert Amu Vivian Kruh Kwaku Kissah-Korsah Kobina Esia-Donkoh Eugene Koffour Marfo Darteh |
| author_facet | Reuben Foster Twintoh Hubert Amu Vivian Kruh Kwaku Kissah-Korsah Kobina Esia-Donkoh Eugene Koffour Marfo Darteh |
| author_sort | Reuben Foster Twintoh |
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| description | Abstract Background Teenage childbirth is an issue of social and public health concern in Ghana, with high prevalence in some regions, including the Central Region. There is a dire need to understand the experiences of teenagers beyond pregnancies to facilitate comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and service provision. We explored the postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in five communities in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods We adopted a descriptive phenomenological design. Using in-depth interview guides and pictorial diaries/guides, 30 teenage mothers who had given birth less than two years before our study, were recruited. Data were analysed thematically using a systematic qualitative-oriented text analysis with QSR NVivo 12 Pro software. Results Teenage mothers experienced pregnancy and childbirth related complications such as postpartum haemorrhage, preterm births, and low birth weight of their babies. Socio-cultural, psychological, and economic-related experiences were also observed. Teenage mothers were inexperienced and lacked financial support after childbirth. They often depended on the microsystem consisting of the family, friends, and the children’s fathers as major source of support to enable them and their babies to survive, develop, and become healthy and happy in life. Conclusions Teenage mothers are confronted with challenges that require the assistance of actors within the microsystem to address. We recommend that stakeholders including healthcare professionals, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and parents be sensitive to the postnatal challenges faced by teenage mothers so that they can work at providing the necessary skills and support to enable them to cope better with motherhood. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-aff60ff852094892afc9e6403c3eedde2025-02-02T12:46:01ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111510.1186/s12889-025-21376-5Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological studyReuben Foster Twintoh0Hubert Amu1Vivian Kruh2Kwaku Kissah-Korsah3Kobina Esia-Donkoh4Eugene Koffour Marfo Darteh5Department of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Behavioural Sciences, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health University of Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape CoastAbstract Background Teenage childbirth is an issue of social and public health concern in Ghana, with high prevalence in some regions, including the Central Region. There is a dire need to understand the experiences of teenagers beyond pregnancies to facilitate comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and service provision. We explored the postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in five communities in the Central Region of Ghana. Methods We adopted a descriptive phenomenological design. Using in-depth interview guides and pictorial diaries/guides, 30 teenage mothers who had given birth less than two years before our study, were recruited. Data were analysed thematically using a systematic qualitative-oriented text analysis with QSR NVivo 12 Pro software. Results Teenage mothers experienced pregnancy and childbirth related complications such as postpartum haemorrhage, preterm births, and low birth weight of their babies. Socio-cultural, psychological, and economic-related experiences were also observed. Teenage mothers were inexperienced and lacked financial support after childbirth. They often depended on the microsystem consisting of the family, friends, and the children’s fathers as major source of support to enable them and their babies to survive, develop, and become healthy and happy in life. Conclusions Teenage mothers are confronted with challenges that require the assistance of actors within the microsystem to address. We recommend that stakeholders including healthcare professionals, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and parents be sensitive to the postnatal challenges faced by teenage mothers so that they can work at providing the necessary skills and support to enable them to cope better with motherhood.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21376-5Teenage mothersPostnatal experiencesEcological systems theoryGhana |
| spellingShingle | Reuben Foster Twintoh Hubert Amu Vivian Kruh Kwaku Kissah-Korsah Kobina Esia-Donkoh Eugene Koffour Marfo Darteh Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study BMC Public Health Teenage mothers Postnatal experiences Ecological systems theory Ghana |
| title | Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study |
| title_full | Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study |
| title_fullStr | Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study |
| title_short | Postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in Central Region, Ghana: a phenomenological study |
| title_sort | postnatal experiences of teenage mothers in selected communities in central region ghana a phenomenological study |
| topic | Teenage mothers Postnatal experiences Ecological systems theory Ghana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21376-5 |
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