Keywords
early motherhood
perinatal care
pregnancy
teenage mothers
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction and Aim: Adolescent pregnancy carries significant medical, psychological, and social implications. Young maternal age is associated with an increased risk of perinatal complications and may expose underage patients to stigmatization and inappropriate treatment within healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to explore and analyze the experiences of pregnant minors in the context of healthcare professionals’ attitudes and behaviors toward them.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative design was used, based on semi-structured interviews. The study included eight women aged 19–23 who had given birth to their first child before turning 18. Eligibility required that childbirth had occurred within the previous five years. Data were collected between March 2024 and February 2025. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed using content analysis.
Results: Participants reported both positive and negative interactions with medical staff. More than half felt stigmatized due to their young age, and several described insufficient information regarding their own health or that of their newborn. Support from close relatives proved crucial for their sense of safety and emotional stability. Early motherhood was perceived as an ambivalent experience that was both challenging and personally transformative.
Conclusions: The attitudes of healthcare professionals toward underage patients were inconsistent and often failed to meet standards of respectful, empathetic obstetric care. There is a clear need to increase awareness and strengthen the preparedness of healthcare personnel to work with this vulnerable patient group, as well as to improve access to prenatal education for pregnant minors.
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