Changes in the psychosocial aspects of child-bearing teenage girls in southern Thailand from pre-pregnancy to postpartum through interviews / 国際保健医療

ABSTRACT

<b>Objective</b><BR>  This study aims to describe the changes in the psychosocial aspects of women from southern Thai who gave birth during their teenage years and also considers support from the maternal care perspective.<BR><b>Methods</b><BR>  The present study adopted a qualitative descriptive method. Nine postpartum southern Thai women were interviewed about changes in their lives and their psychological conditions from pregnancy to postpartum. The data was codified, categorized by similar codes, and then analyzed.<BR><b>Results and Discussion</b><BR>  The participant’s average age was 16.8 years, of whom seven were primiparas and two were multiparas. Among them, four had not completed compulsory education. All pregnancies were unplanned, and the participants exhibited low rates of sex education. They could not exercise effective self-management with respect to health during pregnancy. One birth was premature and of the nine newborns, five had low birth weights. The participants were raised in poor families and had an “inferiority complex” due to the same. They could not successfully build personal relationships; “school life was not fun, and was interrupted.” With a “purposeless life following withdrawal from school,” they found a romantic partner and became pregnant. After confirmation of their pregnancy, each became upset and found themselves in a state of psychological crisis. After confessing to their parents and after being encouraged by them to get married, they experienced major changes toward “relief at being acknowledged of their circumstances and a positive awareness toward childbirth.” After childbirth, they experienced “growing affection toward their child” and “positive feelings about child care.” We also heard discussions about “a positive view toward school to find employment.”<BR>  In spite of the fact that the area concerned was equipped with medical facilities and administrative-level maternal and child healthcare systems, the participants did not receive guidance regarding education and consultation or guidance on reproductive health within the community. Participants were inexperienced, and their ability to access the available social resources remained low. Proactive outreach regarding the ability to participate in the community is necessary in preventing unwanted teenage pregnancies and also for life after childbirth. Especially, comprehensive education about reproductive health needs to be provided by the community for those who have left school before completing compulsory education. Training for peer supporters and assistance by networking with local residents along with promoting the formation of teenage childcare groups are deemed necessary.