Exploring challenges of teenage pregnancy and motherhood from beneficiaries and providers' perspectives: A qualitative study in a rural area of Purba Bardhaman District, West Bengal.

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are globally important public health concerns. In India, 6.8% women between 15 and 19 years were already mothers or pregnant, whereas in Purba-Bardhaman district of West Bengal it was 21.9% (National-Family-Health-Survey-5). Challenges of teenage pregnancy and motherhood needs to be understood from beneficiaries' and providers' perspectives. This study aimed at exploring the various challenges faced by teenagers during their pregnancies and motherhood and understanding the barriers of service delivery to them in a block of West Bengal. A qualitative study with phenomenological approach was conducted between January and June 2021 in Bhatar community development block of Purba-Bardhaman district, West Bengal. In-depth interview (IDI) of 12 purposively selected teenage mothers and two sessions of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) among 17 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) were conducted. Data was collected by audio recording the IDI and FGD sessions as well as by taking notes. Inductive thematic analysis was done by using NVIVO software (Release 1.0, QSR International). Throughout teenage pregnancy and motherhood, subjects were found to face various types of medical problems, lack of awareness, and non-supportive family environment. Various social constraints and psychosocial stressors emerged as significant challenges. Communication gaps, behavioural barriers, socio-cultural issues, and administrative issues were major themes emerged as barriers of service delivery. Lack of awareness and medical problems were important challenges faced by the teenage mothers whereas behavioural barriers were the most important service level barriers perceived by the grass root level service providers.