Abstract
Young mothers constitute a vulnerable population in Canada. Teens with children are at significant risk of subsequent pregnancy, a dynamic that can exacerbate health, emotional, and socio-economic challenges. We aimed to understand better the dynamics shaping “rapid repeat pregnancy” among young mothers in Ottawa, explore young mothers’ subsequent pregnancy experiences, and identify how services could be improved in Canada’s capital. In 2016, we conducted in-depth interviews with 10 young mothers and semi-structured interviews with 10 key informants working with pregnant and parenting youth. We analyzed interviews for content and themes using a multi-phased, iterative process. Four major themes emerged: (1) young mothers often plan their pregnancies actively or passively; (2) violence before, during, and after pregnancy is common; (3) mental health and substance abuse issues shape pregnancy risk; and (4) becoming pregnant often serves as a source of motivation for young mothers. Our results further indicate that young mothers have difficulty finding youth-friendly, non-judgmental support services and that integrated, multidisciplinary services offering individually tailored support and building on women’s strengths will likely be more successful in helping young mothers prevent subsequent pregnancies. Increasing awareness about existing services and supporting efforts that approach teen pregnancy comprehensively and holistically appear warranted.
Highlights
Published: November 7, 2017Published by: Canadian Science PublishingIn Canada, it is estimated that every year approximately 40 000 adolescent girls become pregnant; roughly 20 000 have an abortion and 20 000 give birth (Al-Sahab et al 2012)
Overarching socio-economic dynamics can impact the health of both young mothers and their children; teen mothers are more likely to develop depression and anxiety than non-parenting teens (Al-Sahab et al 2012; Hodgkinson et al 2014; SmithBattle and Freed 2016; Harrison et al 2017) and the children of teens are at greater risk for educational disabilities and mental health disorders than children born to older parents (Lipman et al 2011; Kingston et al 2012)
In the interviews with key informants, we explored service providers’ experiences working with pregnant and parenting youth, the risk factors associated with teenage motherhood and subsequent pregnancy, and their experiences with the different services offered in Ottawa
Summary
In Canada, it is estimated that every year approximately 40 000 adolescent girls become pregnant; roughly 20 000 have an abortion and 20 000 give birth (Al-Sahab et al 2012) Young mothers and their children are a vulnerable population requiring support and programmatic attention (Beers and Hollo 2009; Harrison et al 2014, 2017). Children of teenage mothers are 25% more likely themselves to become adolescent parents, thereby contributing to a complex cycle (Harrison et al 2017) These educational, socio-economic, and health dynamics can have a negative influence on the development of the mother–child relationship; teenage mothers are more likely than older parents to exhibit difficulty with the task of early parenthood (Singh et al 2001)
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