Mothers' Perspective of How They Relate to Their Young Pregnant Adolescents: An Ethnography

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy and birth rates in the United States continue to decline, however, approximately four in ten adolescent girls become pregnant before they reach 20 years old (Kirby, 2001). There is a paucity of research on the perceptions of mothers and how they relate to their young pregnant adolescents (15 years old and younger) during pregnancy. This study describes the attitudes, values, beliefs, and cultural meaning from the mothers' perspective of the relationship with their pregnant daughters.

A descriptive design and naturalistic approach (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) was taken to allow the researcher to learn from people rather than to simply study them (Spradley, 1979). Audio taped interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. A non-random, purposive, convenience sample of five mothers of pregnant adolescents (ages 13 to 15) were recruited and interviewed when their daughters were 30 to 35 weeks gestation.

Three cultural themes emerged from the analysis: (1) mothers' relationship with their young pregnant adolescent daughter although somewhat conflicted prior to pregnancy, draws them closer together as the pregnancy progresses focusing on caring for and meeting the needs ofthe pregnancy; (2) reactions of mothers to finding out about the pregnancy have qualities similar to the process of grief/loss; and (3) mothers' advice to parents of preteens/young teens is to keep communication open and teach about sex and birth control, however, ifthe teen becomes pregnant, be there for her.

This study confirms previous literature and research about the relationship of mothers and daughters and adds groundbreaking new information about how mothers relate to their young pregnant adolescents during pregnancy. This study adds to nursing science insight into changes in the mother-daughter relationship caused by pregnancy and related issues of parenting a pregnant adolescent. The notion that the mother needs to continue parenting her daughter while she is pregnant is important. Further research needs to be done to explore the needs of mothers of young pregnant adolescent daughters. The risk status of mothers needs to be addressed, practice approaches need to be generated and developmental programs for mothers at risk may need to be created and tested.