Italian psychologists’ and midwives’ perceptions of the pregnant teen: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Although debate on adolescent pregnancies has continued for many years, only a few studies have paid attention to the attitudes of health workers and their perceptions of these teens. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate and describe midwives’ and psychologists’ perceptions of the pregnant teens arriving at the health centres – either who wanted to become mothers or to interrupt pregnancy – analysing health workers’ reflections on their experiences of caring for these teens during pregnancy in the Italian context. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 22 health workers in order to describe their perceptions of Italian pregnant adolescents. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Data analysis identified three themes arising from health workers narrations: ‘teen identities’, with the subthemes confused teens, omnipotent teens and immigrant teens; ‘maternal bonding’, with the subthemes supportive mothers and self-centred mothers; and ‘social support demand’, with the subthemes support-seeking teens, self-excluded teens and unsupportive young partners. Conclusion: The results provide an interesting picture of health workers’ perceptions of Italian pregnant adolescents adding new knowledge that will be useful for better planning interventions with pregnant teenagers.