Abstract:
Background: Teenage pregnancies have become rampant Rwanda which negatively affects teens lives, despite numerous interventions. Their impact also expands to the entire family, community and the country in general. This study focuses on female parents’ experiences and reactions towards teenage pregnancies and motherhood. The main aim is to be able to understand their perceptions, reactions, challenges and impact on individual and social life for the promotion of health.
Methods: The study used a phenomenology approach to qualitative research that focuses on the commonality of a lived experience within female parents of teen in Gasabo district of Kigali city in Rwanda. The study used a purposive sampling method to recruit 22 women in the indepth interviews and 38 in the 4 FGDs grouped as: 2 groups of female parents with pregnant or nursing teens, one group of female parents with multiple teen pregnancies and one group of female parents without experience of teen pregnancy. All 60 participants were recruited in 8 villages located in Kinyinya sector. Interviews were recorded and transcripts written. Data were analyzed for content manually.
Results: The main perceived reasons discussed included poverty, parenting styles, knowledge and teens’ behaviors. Sex communication was identified as an important tool, and in regard to parental support, findings revealed that positive parent-teenager relationship during pregnancy gave hope to the teenager and led to desired outcomes for both the teenager and infant and the vice versa. Perceived reactions upon learning of teen pregnancy included denial from mothers of teenagers, scare, and confusion. For most, the relationship between mothers and their daughters during the pregnancy period was good and were ready to usher in their grandchildren.
Conclusion: The growing numbers of pregnancies among teenagers is a public health menace that calls for the attention of parents, guardians, governments, health care practitioners, and other relevant agencies to collaborate in the effort to prevent its occurrence. The study recommended, parents should try to be accommodating to help their daughters go through the crises situation successfully and thereafter, support them to achieve their full potentials.
