Abstract:
Teenage childbirth is a social and public health concern in Ghana, with high
prevalence in some regions in the country, including the Central Region,
particularly in the KEEA Municipality. This study sought to explore teenage
mothers’ experiences with childbirth in the KEEA Municipality. The study
utilised a cross sectional research design, where qualitative methods such as indepth
interviews and pictorial guides were used to collect the data from 30
participants. The data were analysed using a systematic qualitative oriented text
analysis and NVivo 12 Pro qualitative software. Using health belief model,
resilience theory and ecological systems theory, teenage mother’s life
experiences, feelings and circumstances with childbirth were explored. The
study reveals that, teenage mothers experienced risks of postpartum
haemorrhage, preterm births, low birth weight, and other neonatal conditions.
Findings suggested that teenage mothers were inexperienced in some of the
childcare practices. They use traditional practices that were part of their
immediate environment (family) and community culture/belief when caring for
their babies. For instance, putting wet towel on hot stone and apply to the
umbilical stump. It emerged that teen mothers required help and social support
from the microsystem consisting of the family, friends, and the baby’s fathers
to enable them and their babies survive, develop, and become healthy and happy
in life. It is recommended that, health care professionals must be aware of the
birth experiences and child care practices of teenage mothers in order to plan
quality care for mother—child and ensure that the needed support, knowledge
and guidance should be provided to teenage mothers to ensure their wellbeing
and that of their children.
