Adolescent mothers and their health related life style practice

ABSTRACT

To explore health related life style practices of adolescent mothers in order to develop 'culturally sensitive' adolescent programmes. Cross-sectional, descriptive study from Sept. 2005 to Feb. 2006. Outpatient clinic of the Dept. of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Civil Hospital, Karachi. Adolescent mothers who already had outcome of first pregnancy and were pregnant again or visited the clinic for some other problem. All the women included in the study were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. The data thus collected was analyzed. One hundred and twenty women were included in the study. Amongst them 82% had less than high school education, 50% were supported by the biological parents, 98% had no sex education and only 20% had knowledge of contraception. The nutritional behaviour was unsatisfactory; eating of junk food was common. Breast feeding practices were satisfactory. Most of them had some element of depression after delivery, 86% pregnancies were unplanned. About 20% had either 1st or 2nd pregnancy terminated and 10% had some element of social support. Problems of our adolescent mothers are different from those of the developed world. Culturally sensitive programmes should be implemented to solve their problems