Withering While Blossoming: Lived Experience of Pregnancy in Iranian Adolescent Mothers Publisher



Gharacheh M¹ ; Mohammadi N² ; Alaghband Rad J³ ; Montazeri S⁴
Source: Child and Youth Services Published:2020

Abstract

A phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experience of pregnancy in Iranian adolescent mothers. Participants were recruited from three healthcare centers in Ahvaz, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with eleven adolescents who had experienced their first pregnancy. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. The overarching theme that emerged from the data analysis was “withering while blossoming”, presenting a picture of struggle with duality imposed on the lives of pregnant adolescents due to the coincidence of three evolutionary events of adolescence, marriage and pregnancy. Pregnancy was experienced by the adolescents as an event that led to losing their other opportunities in life while developing their potential capabilities. Healthcare providers should consider adolescent mothers’ experiences to provide comprehensive and appropriate health services to empower these mothers for successful transition from the multiple developmental stages. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.