Phenomenological study on infant care among teenage mothers

Abstract

This study, using the descriptive phenomenological approach, explored the infant care experience of teenage mothers. Seven teenage mothers, ages 15-19 years old, were interviewed. These participants came from diverse educational, socio- economic, and geopolitical backgrounds, who were primary caregivers of their children 0-12 months old at the time of the interview and delivered termed babies without any congenital disorders regardless of the method of delivery. The interview with teenage mothers was recorded using a digital recorder and was transcribed using Hycner’s (1985) method. Findings of the study showed that essence of the infant care experience of teenage mothers is characterized by four major themes: adapting to infant care routines, facing challenges in infant care, adjusting to become a teenage mother, and feeling of fulfillment of motherhood experience. These teen mothers cared for their babies with support from their families, partners and significant others. Some of them regretted becoming mothers at an early age and deprived of social life, sleep, and time for self. They desired for self-improvement and tried to manage time. They may be young, but they feel happy and fulfilled seeing their babies grow.