Abstract
BackgroundAdolescent pregnancy is a public health concern in Malawi as it is associated with high risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Almost 29% of adolescent women aged 15–19 years are already mothers and adolescent fertility rate is also high estimated at 136 per 1000 women. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore knowledge of pregnant adolescents on importance of antenatal care and health promotion during pregnancy.MethodsA qualitative descriptive design was used to solicit information on significance of antenatal care and how adolescents promote their health during pregnancy. Data was collected from 77 pregnant adolescents, purposively sampled from Namitambo and Namadzi Heath Centres in Chiladzulu District, Malawi. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. Data were analysed manually following principles of qualitative content analysis.ResultsThemes that emerged from the qualitative data included: knowledge deficit on the purpose and benefits of antenatal care; knowledge deficit on services offered at antenatal care clinic; knowledge deficit on danger signs during antenatal period and antenatal emergency care; knowledge deficit on effects of alcohol and smoking; knowledge deficit on nutrition during pregnancy; and knowledge deficit on importance of rest during pregnancy.ConclusionThis study has shown knowledge deficit among adolescent mothers that may contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes. Several factors could be attributed to such knowledge deficit. Therefore, healthcare systems and healthcare professionals have a responsibility to enhance health literacy of pregnant adolescents with an ultimate goal of improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Highlights
Adolescent pregnancy is a public health concern in Malawi as it is associated with high risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes
Participants’ knowledge on issues related to pregnancy and antenatal care Themes that emerged from the qualitative data namely: knowledge deficit on the purpose and benefits of antenatal care; knowledge deficit on services offered at antenatal care clinic; knowledge deficit on danger signs during antenatal period and antenatal emergency care; knowledge deficit on effects of alcohol and smoking; knowledge deficit on nutrition during pregnancy; and knowledge deficit on importance of rest during pregnancy
The findings of this study have shown that pregnant adolescent mothers in Chiladzulu District from Namitambo and Namadzi health centre catchment areas have knowledge deficit in matters related to health promotion during pregnancy
Summary
Adolescent pregnancy is a public health concern in Malawi as it is associated with high risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Almost 29% of adolescent women aged 15–19 years are already mothers and adolescent fertility rate is high estimated at 136 per 1000 women. Adolescents are persons aged 10 to 19 years [1] and adolescent pregnancy refers to a birth rate per 1000 teenage women [2]. According to a World Health Organization report, global adolescent birth rate was 44 per 1000 girls aged 15– 19 years old [4]. In Malawi, 29% of adolescent women aged 15 to 19 years are already mothers or pregnant with their first child and adolescent fertility rate is higher in rural areas estimated at 31% than in urban areas which is estimated at 21% [5]. Some of the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy are early marriages, poor social and economic support, curiosity and peer pressure, lack of comprehensive sexuality education, poor reproductive health services provision and poor attitudes of health workers in the provision of contraceptives to adolescents [3]
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