Nurses' perception of the multidisciplinary team approach of care for adolescent mothers and their children in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal.

Desiree Govender,Myra Taylor,Saloshni Naidoo

doi:10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1936

Desiree Govender, Myra Taylor + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1936

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Abstract

BackgroundAdolescent childbearing has numerous consequences on maternal health, child health and the well-being of society. Because of the high-risk nature of adolescent pregnancy, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is recommended to achieve satisfactory pregnancy outcomes.AimThe aim of this study was to explore nurses’ perceptions of the MDT approach in the continuum of care for adolescent mothers and their children.SettingThe study was conducted in a local district hospital in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal.MethodsAn explorative and descriptive qualitative study design was used. The first author and hospital staff (clinical midwives and the clinical manager of obstetrics and gynaecology) collaborated on the development of the focus group discussion (FGD) guide to explore nurses’ perception of the MDT approach of care for adolescent mothers and their children. A total of three FGDs were conducted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsSix overarching themes emerged from the data analysis which included professional benefits of adopting the MDT approach of care for adolescent mothers and their children, barriers to the multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical benefits of adopting the MDT approach of care for parenting adolescent mothers, problems and needs of adolescent mothers, and nurses’ reasons regarding their willingness to participate in a multidisciplinary collaboration in the care of parenting adolescent mothers.ConclusionIn the opinion of nurses, the MDT approach of care for adolescent mothers and their children is an important strategy to improve maternal and child health outcomes. This study has important implications for the design of an intervention.

Highlights

Adolescent pregnancy is a complex and multifaceted public health issue.[1]
Childbearing poses a challenge to the eradication of poverty, universal primary education, gender equality and women’s empowerment, reduction of child mortality, improvements in maternal health, and the struggle with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).[2,3]
Adolescent mothers in this study reported emotional vulnerability and the burden of stigma related to adolescent pregnancy in society.[12]

Summary

Introduction

Adolescent pregnancy is a complex and multifaceted public health issue.[1] Early childbearing poses a challenge to the eradication of poverty, universal primary education, gender equality and women’s empowerment, reduction of child mortality, improvements in maternal health, and the struggle with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).[2,3]. A retrospective cohort study carried out in Manitoba, Canada, identified that children of adolescent mothers had a higher risk of hospitalisation, high hospital use, academic failure and poor social skills.[4] evidence concluded that the children of the adolescent mothers accounted for 27% of hospitalisation cases in the first year, while 34% had experienced early mortality (birth to 17 years). Adolescent childbearing has numerous consequences on maternal health, child health and the well-being of society. Because of the high-risk nature of adolescent pregnancy, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is recommended to achieve satisfactory pregnancy outcomes

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