Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-275).

Thesis (M.A.)--Bowling Green State University, 2010. / Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 71 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 56).

The number of adolescents who become pregnant each year has, for the past two decades, been a topic of serious concern among international education and health professionals. The Department of Education established a new policy that allows adolescents to pursue their studies during pregnancy. This policy frustrated parents and educators because it interfered with social norms and values. It also puts pregnant adolescents’ lives at risk (Mwamwenda, 1996: 206). The pregnant adolescent finds herself in the midst of a multifaceted crisis situation which is characterised by the emotional and physical reality of pregnancy. She also faces the interruption of normal physiological development, a possible change in educational and career pursuit as well as parental kinship support, an increase in medical risks during pregnancy, and the premature assumption of the adult role with its associated responsibilities. The shock of an unwanted pregnancy can be emotionally traumatic for the adolescent. Some receive emotional support from their close family members, others do not. In the absence of emotional support, the pregnant adolescent may experience increased anxiety and frustration, while others may develop depression. Together with middle-aged childbearing women, adolescents are viewed as a high risk maternity population. Complications such as high blood pressure, toxaemia, anemia and cardiac and other physiological conditions may develop, endangering the life of the adolescent (Bodak & Jensen, 1984: 938) The researcher’s curiosity about adolescent pregnancy was raised when she studied the statistics of adolescent pregnancy between 2000 and 2003, at the local clinic in Duduza. She realised that more adolescents are becoming pregnant every year. She decided to conduct research about adolescent pregnancy. The intention was to explore and describe the experience of adolescents during pregnancy at Duduza Location and to determine guidelines for educators, parents and health workers to support adolescents during pregnancy. She also intended to make recommendations for parents, educators and health workers on how pregnant adolescents can be supported. This research was aimed at describing and exploring the experiences of adolescents during pregnancy. This research was qualitative in nature. The sample was taken from pregnant adolescents in a township. Data gathering methods used in this research were individual interviews and observations. The observation for this study was conducted by the researcher at the local clinic and individual homes. A total of ten interviews were conducted and all of them were transcribed and edited. The participants had to comment on their experiences during pregnancy. These ten interviews formed the basis of this study to facilitate the attainment of the primary objectives which were to explore and describe the experiences of adolescents during pregnancy. The data from these interviews were analysed by using an open coding method. An independent coder did an analysis independent from the researcher. A consensus validation discussion was held with the independent coder on the analyses of the data. The detailed discussion of results obtained from the interviews and observations were presented in verbatim quotes, descriptive and reflective notes and illustration of emergent themes and categories. Rigor and adequacy were ensured by the data collected and the results obtained from the data analysis indicated convergence and saturation. The measures of trustworthiness, that is, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability, were applied throughout the study. Ethical considerations were addressed in the assent letters which were presented to the participants. Ethical considerations included the preserving of anonymity, confidentiality, and the ethical role of the researcher that had to be adhered to. The research results indicated that adolescent pregnancy has psychological effects on the adolescent and there is insufficient support from significant others when they find out that the adolescent girl is pregnant. The guidelines for parents, educators and health workers to support adolescents during pregnancy were formulated and recommendations discussed. / Prof. C.P.H. Myburgh

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a breastfeeding education program on breastfeeding initiation rates, breastfeeding knowledge, and attitude towards breastfeeding among teenage mothers at an urban school for pregnant and parenting teens. Breastfeeding initiation rose from 35.7% in the control group to 85.2% in the treatment group. The mean score on the Breastfeeding Knowledge Subscale was significantly higher for the treatment group but not the control group. There was not a significant increase in mean scores on the Breastfeeding Attitude Subscale. Participants who initiated breastfeeding scored also had a significant increase in scores from pretest to posttest on the Breastfeeding Knowledge Subscale, while participants who did not initiate breastfeeding did not.

Magister Artium (Child and Family Studies) - MA(CFS) / Teenage pregnancy and motherhood is a challenging phenomenon worldwide. The goal of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions and experiencesof a sample of teenage girls about pregnancy, birth and motherhood. The objectives of the research were to engage voluntary participants in autobiographical "life stories" and semi structured interviews relating to the phenomenon being studied; to analyze the qualitative information and do a literature control of the findings and compare and verify and make appropriate conclusions and recommendations. / South Africa

No description available.

Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among adolescent mothers continue to fall short of the national recommended Healthy People 2010 goals. An interdisciplinary review of the literature was performed using CINAHL, MED LINE, and Academic Search Premier. The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the findings of an integrated literature review to describe how support and educational interventions implemented by nurses during the prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period may increase the incidence of breastfeeding among this vulnerable population. There is a dearth of research related to adolescent breastfeeding. The most common design was noted to be descriptive (N=9) with qualitative and some quantitative components. Studies evaluated several variables: attitudes of infant feeding practices among adolescent mothers; the various health benefits of breastfeeding; breastfeeding statistics; and the impact that professional support, interventions, and education had on an adolescent's perception of breastfeeding. Findings from the review suggested that • breastfeeding support and education are essential in promoting, encouraging, and targeting teenage childbearing women. Early identification of barriers to breastfeeding and cost-effective strategies to promote breastfeeding among adolescent women may even decrease common breastfeeding problems that lead to early weaning among this population. Until the American culture fully embraces the value of breastfeeding, its value will be diminished with no improvement in media representation and workplace support.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Adolescent motherhood is a major problem in many societies throughout the world. One of the problems these young mothers have to deal with is depression. Depression often results in the disengagement of mother-child interaction. Adolescent mothers who are identified as depressed are more at increased risk of future psychopathology, with additional effects on their future and infants‟ lives. The aim of this study investigates the influence of demographic factors (age and marital status) and social support on depression among high school teenage mothers in the Mankweng area in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Two hundred adolescent mothers took part in the study. One hundred of participants were mothers while the others were non-mothers. Their ages ranged between 15 and 19. A quantitative research design and methodology was employed. Correlation analysis method was also used to associate lack of social support with depression. Correlation analysis indicates that lack of social support was a significant factor negatively affecting teenage mothers‟ disposition to depression (r = -0.609, p < 0.01). T-test analysis which was used to compare the experience of depression among teenage mother base on different age group, indicates that age does not play a significant role for teenage mothers to experience depression (t = 1.409, df = 98; p > 0.05). T-test analysis was also used to compare the experience of depression on married teenage mother and unmarried teenage mothers, and indicates that teenage mothers experience depression irrespective of marital status (t = 1.091, df = 98; p > 0.05). It is recommended that professional counseling be provided to teenage mothers before they return to the school system after giving birth. Support from social welfare and family members are also key support system for the young mothers so that these bring psychological and social stability in their lives.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [146]-168).