The burden of care experienced by families with teenage mothers in a selected township in Mpumalanga

Abstract

INTRODUCTION In South Africa, 30 per cent of teenagers admit to “ever falling” pregnant. Most teenage mothers live with family members, are unemployed and still attending school. Various forms of care provided include emotional care, financial care and physical health care including access to resources. Family members provide teenage mothers with care throughout antenatal and postnatal period. Families find themselves challenged with the burden to provide care for the teenage mother and baby, as pregnancy is unplanned. AIMS/OBJECTIVES The aim of the study is to explore and describe the burden of care experienced by families with teenage mothers in a selected township in Mpumalanga. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Qualitative design, this method was used to explore and describe experiences of families with teenage mothers with regard to the burden of care in a selected township in Mpumalanga. A total number of seven families who care for teenage mother were included. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was done using the eight steps of Tesch’s data analysis method, and in doing so ethical consideration and trustworthiness were ensured. It emerged that families are burdened with provision of care to the teenage mother: socially, psychological and financially including meeting the physical health needs of teenage mother and baby. Recommendations in the study included the involvement of health experts to assist families on handling issues that emerged after teenage pregnancy. A need to formulate specific policies regarding the support of families with teenage mothers by relevant departments is eminent. CONCLUSION The conclusion made is that families need diverse support to provide care to teenage mother and baby.