Life concerns of Pregnant Adolescents and a Teenage mother at Wakisa Ministries and their readiness to return home after delivery

Abstract

This study examined the life concerns of pregnant adolescents and a teenage mother at Wakisa Ministries and their readiness to return home after delivery. It was a qualitative study with a descriptive research design. It explored the life concerns, found out immediate goals and future plans of pregnant adolescents and a teenage mother and assessed their readiness to return home. A sample of five pregnant adolescents and a teenage mother aged between 14 -18 years were selected by use of purposive sampling. I collected data by use of individual face-to-face in -depth structured interviews and analyzed that data thematically. I identified, examined and interpreted common patterns according to themes that were guided by the study objectives and research questions. I took note of deviations from similar patterns and made justifications for the differences found. Results revealed that adolescent pregnancies were associated with prior negative home environments. I found out that different physical, psychological, social and financial challenges faced by those adolescents contributed significantly to their unreadiness to return home from the shelter after delivery. I therefore concluded that readiness to return home after delivery was more dependent on individual and family factors as well as the environment back home than on the preparation offered by the shelter. Thus, more efforts need to be devoted to building functional families with safe and friendly home environments. In cases where teenage pregnancy has already occurred, families and community members need to be trained on how to live with pregnant adolescents, receive teenage mothers back home and to help them transition adaptively